Bernt Heiberg
Encyclopedia
Johan Bernt Krohg Heiberg (4 September 1909 – 29 September 2001) was a Norwegian
architect.
to the barrister Axel Heiberg (1875–1952) and his wife Ragnhild Krohg (1879–1947). He had two brothers: Axel Heiberg jr.
(1908–88) and Edvard Heiberg
(1911–2000). In 1935, Heiberg married Halldis Rollang (1910–92).
in 1927. He thereafter moved to Trondheim
, where he studied at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
. In 1936, he was hired as an assistant by Frithjof Stoud Platou. Four years later, he started his own architectural firm
in Oslo. In the 1950s, Heiberg designed many buildings for the housing cooperative
Oslo Bolig- og Sparelag and Christiania Bank
. He designed also many buildings with Ola Mørk Sandvik until 1968, among them the head office of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
, the restaurant Annen Etage and the Hotel Continental
.
Heiberg's buildings were mostly designed in functionalist
style, which he considered "architecture for living people". When it came to politics, Heiberg was a leftist. But even though he was a supporter of the communist league Mot Dag
in the 1930s, Heiberg opposed the May 1968 revolts, stating that he "with shame had to admit, that [he] was tired of the whole thing".
From 1961 to 1971, Heiberg headed the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. He also headed the board of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design from 1978 to 1981. In 1950, he was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He died on 29 September 2001.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
architect.
Early and personal life
He was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
to the barrister Axel Heiberg (1875–1952) and his wife Ragnhild Krohg (1879–1947). He had two brothers: Axel Heiberg jr.
Axel Heiberg (judge)
Axel Heiberg was a Norwegian judge.He was a son of barrister Axel Heiberg , brother of Bernt and Edvard Heiberg, nephew of Eivind Heiberg, first cousin of Hans Heiberg and a first cousin once removed of Gustav, Jacob, Gunnar and Inge Heiberg.He worked as a lawyer from 1935, and became a prosecutor...
(1908–88) and Edvard Heiberg
Edvard Heiberg
Edvard Heiberg was a Norwegian director and engineer.Heiberg was the youngest son of barrister Axel Heiberg and his wife Ragnhild Krohg . He had two brothers, Axel Heiberg Jr. and Bernt Heiberg...
(1911–2000). In 1935, Heiberg married Halldis Rollang (1910–92).
Career
Heiberg took examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1927. He thereafter moved to Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, where he studied at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
. In 1936, he was hired as an assistant by Frithjof Stoud Platou. Four years later, he started his own architectural firm
Architectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
in Oslo. In the 1950s, Heiberg designed many buildings for the housing cooperative
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
Oslo Bolig- og Sparelag and Christiania Bank
Christiania Bank
Christiania Bank og Kreditkasse, branded domestically as Kreditkassen or K-Bank and internationally as Christiania Bank was a Norwegian bank that existed between 1848 and 2000 when it merged with MeritaNordbanken and became Nordea...
. He designed also many buildings with Ola Mørk Sandvik until 1968, among them the head office of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
, the restaurant Annen Etage and the Hotel Continental
Hotel Continental, Oslo
Hotel Continental is a hotel in Oslo, Norway, that opened in 1900.The background story of the Continental is like an old fairytale, about a young couple, who through their hard work and entrepreneurship created a monument that will live for many years. It all started in Sweden in 1860, with the...
.
Heiberg's buildings were mostly designed in functionalist
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
style, which he considered "architecture for living people". When it came to politics, Heiberg was a leftist. But even though he was a supporter of the communist league Mot Dag
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
in the 1930s, Heiberg opposed the May 1968 revolts, stating that he "with shame had to admit, that [he] was tired of the whole thing".
From 1961 to 1971, Heiberg headed the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. He also headed the board of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design from 1978 to 1981. In 1950, he was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He died on 29 September 2001.