Country Denmark Client Carl Jacobsen Architectural style Historicism Architect Vilhelm Dahlerup | Completed 1901 Opened 1901 Town or city Copenhagen | |
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Similar Carl Jacobsen House, Carlsberg Station, Carlsberg Museum, Visit Carlsberg, Ny Carlsberg Brewhouse | ||
The Elephant Gate (Danish: Elefantporten), also referred to as the Elephant Tower (Danish: Elefanttårnet), is the most famous landmark of the Carlsberg area, the original brewery site of the Carlsberg Breweries, which is now under redevelopment as a new neighbourhood in Copenhagen, Denmark. It takes its name from four large granite elephants which flank the gate, standing back to back, carrying a small tower on their backs.
Contents
- Map of Elephant Gate and Tower 1760 KC3B8benhavn Denmark
- History
- Architecture
- The elephants
- The spire
- References
Map of Elephant Gate and Tower, 1760 K%C3%B8benhavn, Denmark
History
Completed in 1901, the Elephant Gate was built at the same time as the Ny Carlsberg Brewhouse. Together with the original Ny Carlsberg building and the Dipylon, they completed the main Ny Carlsberg complex around a central courtyard.
The new Elephant Gate made the entrance to the brewery from the Valby side, complementing the Dipylon which marked the entrance coming from the city.
The architect was Vilhelm Dahlerup who also designed the previous stages but not the new brewhouse which was designed by Vilhelm Klein.
The space above the gate originally served as a water tower and herb silo.
Architecture
Typically of Ny Carlsberg's architecture, as well as of Vilhelm Dahlerip's work in general, the Elephant Gate is built to a colourful Historicist design which freely relies on inspiration from different periods and cultures.
The elephants
The elephant feature, which was Carl Jacobsen's own idea, was inspired by Bernini's obelisk-carrying elephant on Piazza della Minerva in Rome. The four elephants were created by the sculptor Hans Peder Pedersen-Dan based on a sketch by Dahlerup.
The spire
The upper tower, which has a floor area of only 115 square metres, is built in red, ornamental brick. It has tall, round-arched windows and is topped by a copper-clad onion dome.