Freemasons' Hall, Copenhagen
Coordinates: 55°41′51.4608″N 12°34′22.84″E / 55.697628000°N 12.5730111°E
| Freemasons' Hall | |
|---|---|
 The Freemasons' Hall in Copenhagen | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location |
Blegdamsvej 23 Østerbro Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Construction started | 1923 |
| Completed | 1927 |
| Owner | Danish Order of Freemasons (Grand Lodge of Denmark) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Reinforced concrete |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Holger Rasmussen |
Freemasons' Hall (Danish: Frimurerordenens stamhus) located on Blegdamsvej street in Copenhagen's Østerbro district, Denmark, is the headquarters of the Danish Order of Freemasons (the Grand Lodge of Denmark) and a meeting place for the freemasonic lodges in the Copenhagen area.
History
The Danish Order of Freemasons had moved between various addresses and at the beginning of the 20th century was based in "Klerkegade" street in Copenhagen.
When the municipal authorities in Copenhagen sold off a strip of land along "Blegdamsvej" street, previously part of the park Fælledparken, the Danish Order of Freemasons acquired a piece of land. In 1920, a competition was held among its architect members for the design of a new headquarters. Martin Nyrop, architect of Copenhagen City Hall and himself a freemason, sat on the panel of judges. The winning entry was submitted by Holger Rasmussen, a relatively unknown Danish architect who had mainly designed modest buildings for Danish State Railways. The Freemason's Hall was of a different stature entirely. The Freemason's Hall was built from 1923 to 1927.[1] The cornerstone was laid on 3 June 1924 by Danish King Christian X, who was himself a freemason.
Architecture
Built to a rather austre Neoclassical design, the Freemason's Hall is a large grey block. The front toward "Blegdamsvej" is dominated by an over-dimensioned entrance section flanked by two monumental Ionian columns, which are 16 metres tall and weigh 72 tons each. The building is typical of its time. Reacting to an excess of detail in Historicism, Neoclassicism had made a comeback in Danish architecture in about 1915 and lasted until the mid-1930s. Another example of the style is Hack Kampmann's Copenhagen Police Headquarters from 1924.
The Freemason's Hall has 13,515 square metres of floor space and approximately 335 rooms. It is 19.5 metres tall and has six main floors, two of which are below ground.
See also
References
- ↑ "Frimurerlogen, Stamhuset". Bygningskultur Danmark. Retrieved 2011-04-17.