Erik Rolfsen
Encyclopedia
Erik Rolfsen was a Norwegian architect.
Erik Rolfsen was born in Ålesund
, More og Romsdal county, Norway. Rolfsen took his final exams at Kristiansund Public School in 1924. He attended the Drawing Academy in Paris during 1926. In 1930 he took his final exam in architecture at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
in Trondheim
.
He worked in Kristiansund
from 1940, but from 1942 to 1945 he was a consultant for the Norwegian government-in-exile
. From 1947 to 1973 he was the director of city planning in Oslo
and put their mark on the city during a period of intense development. After the merger of Oslo and Aker
in 1948, Rolfsen prepared a general plan for the new large municipal area. The plan was to connect residential areas and laid the foundation for post-war housing in Oslo. Rolfsen favored a strong future-oriented regional plan, where residential areas, workplaces and education centers were coordinated to reduce travel distances. Central to his urban planning was the preservation of nature as an essential part of the city.
He was a guest lecturer at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1947 and lecturer in architecture courses at the National Craft and Industrial Art School 1947–49. He was chairman of the Oslo architect Association 1948–49. Rolfsen was a member of the Norwegian Labour Party
and served in a variety of public committees and advice on urban issues. He presided over the International Federation for Housing and Planning
from 1954 to 1958.
Erik Rolfsen was born in Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
, More og Romsdal county, Norway. Rolfsen took his final exams at Kristiansund Public School in 1924. He attended the Drawing Academy in Paris during 1926. In 1930 he took his final exam in architecture 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 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...
.
He worked in Kristiansund
Kristiansund
Kristiansund is a city and municipality on the western coast of Norway, in the Nordmøre district of Møre og Romsdal county. It was officially awarded township status in 1742, and it is still the major town for the region. The administrative center of the municipality is the city of Kristiansund...
from 1940, but from 1942 to 1945 he was a consultant for the Norwegian government-in-exile
Cabinet Nygaardsvold
Nygaardsvold's Cabinet was appointed on 20 March 1935, the second Labour cabinet in Norway. It closed the brought to an end the non-socialist, minority Governments that had been dominating politics since the introduction of the parliamentary system in 1884, and replaced it with stable, Labour...
. From 1947 to 1973 he was the director of city planning in Oslo
Oslo
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...
and put their mark on the city during a period of intense development. After the merger of Oslo and Aker
Aker
Aker is a surname.Aker can also refer to:In places:* Aker, Norway, a former municipality in NorwayIn other uses:* Aker , mentioned only in the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra* Aker , a god in ancient Egyptian mythology...
in 1948, Rolfsen prepared a general plan for the new large municipal area. The plan was to connect residential areas and laid the foundation for post-war housing in Oslo. Rolfsen favored a strong future-oriented regional plan, where residential areas, workplaces and education centers were coordinated to reduce travel distances. Central to his urban planning was the preservation of nature as an essential part of the city.
He was a guest lecturer at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1947 and lecturer in architecture courses at the National Craft and Industrial Art School 1947–49. He was chairman of the Oslo architect Association 1948–49. Rolfsen was a member of the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
and served in a variety of public committees and advice on urban issues. He presided over the International Federation for Housing and Planning
International Federation for Housing and Planning
The International Federation for Housing and Planning is a world-wide network of professionals representing the broad field of housing and planning. The Federation organises a wide range of activities and creates opportunities for an international exchange of knowledge and experience in the...
from 1954 to 1958.