Nationality Danish Alma mater Royal Danish Academy | Occupation Architect Name Hans Amberg | |
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Born September 23, 1837 ( 1837-09-23 ) Died November 6, 1911(1911-11-06) (aged 74) Awards Knight of the Dannebrog Buildings Christiansborg Palace, Hojbro Plads | ||
Hans Christian Amberg (23 September 1837- 6 November 1919) was a Danish architect. Amberg exhibited at Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition (1863-1884), in Exposition Universelle (1878) in Paris, the Nordic Industrial, Agricultural and Art Exhibition (1888) in Copenhagen, and Copenhagen's City Hall exhibition (1901). Amberg won a competition to design Christiansborg Palace in 1887. He was a Knight of the Dannebrog. Amberg's design was used in the replacement building in Højbro Plads after St Nicholas Church was destroyed in the fire of 1795.
Biography
After an apprenticeship as a carpenter, Amberg studied at the Royal Danish Academy's architecture school (1856–1865) while receiving instruction from Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll, Christian Hansen and Ferdinand Meldahl. In 1874, he won the Academy's gold medal and spent the following two years travelling, mainly to Greece and Turkey.
Amberg's approach, like that of his contemporaries, was influenced by the Historicist requirement to adopt one or more historical styles in every assignment. He designed buildings in the Faroe Islands, including a residence in Thorshavn and Eidi Church on the island of Suðuroy (1880–1881); both with characteristic pyramid spires. His Tinghus in the centre of Esbjerg (1891) and the manor at Vindeholme near Nakskov (1913) are also notable. His greatest achievements were, however, in the area of restoration and renovation work including that on the town hall of Ribe (1882–1884) and Ribe Cathedral (1882–1904) as well as the old priory in Mariager (1891–1892). He also restored St Nicolas Church and, under the sponsorship of Carl Jacobsen, redesigned its spire (1908–1910); in collaboration with Carl Brummer, he designed a spire for the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen. The latter project was, however, not completed as Jacobsen died in 1914.