Georg Andreas Bull
Encyclopedia
Georg Andreas Bull was a Norwegian architect
and chief building inspector in Christiania
for forty years. He was among the leading architects in the country, and left his mark on Norwegian building history both as a creative architect, and through his measurement studies and archeological research.
, as a son of pharmacist Johan Storm Bull and his wife Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden. He was a brother of violinist Ole Bull
and painter Knud Bull
, an uncle of Edvard Hagerup Bull and Schak Bull
, a granduncle of Sverre Hagerup Bull
and a second cousin of Johan Randulf Bull
and Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull.
He was married to Emilie Constance Hjelm, and father of architect Henrik Bull
. He had nine children, and died in Bestum in Ullern
in 1917.
at the Polytechnische Schule in Hannover from 1846 to 1850, and continued his studies in England. After his engineering studies he made archeological studies of the Haakon's Hall in Bergen, other buildings from the Middle Ages
, including 20 stave church
es. He studied architecture at the Berliner Bauakademie
from 1855 to 1856. He started working as an architect in Kristiania in 1857, where his first significant work was Christiania Dampkjøkken. After a major fire in Kristiania in 1858 he started planning the villa
area Homansbyen
, where he also designed many of the buildings, during the period from 1858 to 1866. He was architect for Statsbanene from 1863 to 1872.
Bull's designs ranged from churches, villa
s and train station
s to interiors and storehouses. Among his works are the two train stations in Oslo, Oslo Vestbanestasjon
and Østbanen, and altogether about sixty train stations throughout the country. He designed railway stations of the Krøder Line, including the Krøderen Station (1872), and of the Grensebanen, including Åbogen Station (1865), Matrand Station (1865) and Magnor Station (1865).
Bull was a board member of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments from 1853 to 1864, and of Christiania Theatre
from 1866. He was chairman for Selskabet for Christiania Byes Vel
from 1904 to 1908. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1875, and was decorated Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and chief building inspector in Christiania
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...
for forty years. He was among the leading architects in the country, and left his mark on Norwegian building history both as a creative architect, and through his measurement studies and archeological research.
Personal life
Bull was born in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, as a son of pharmacist Johan Storm Bull and his wife Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden. He was a brother of violinist Ole Bull
Ole Bull
Ole Bornemann Bull was a Norwegian violinist and composer.-Background:Bull was born in Bergen. He was the eldest of ten children of Johan Storm Bull and Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden . His brother, Georg Andreas Bull became a noted Norwegian architect...
and painter Knud Bull
Knud Bull
Knud Geelmuyden Bull was a Norwegian painter and counterfeiter. He was convicted for delivering equipment for printing false bank notes, and was deported from Great Britain to Australia in 1846...
, an uncle of Edvard Hagerup Bull and Schak Bull
Schak Bull
Schak August Steenberg Bull was a Norwegian architect.-Personal life:He was born in Årstad as the son of Colonel Jens Munthe Bull and his wife Johanne Margrethe Hagerup . His brother Edvard Hagerup Bull was a judge and politician, and his maternal grandfather was politician Edvard Hagerup...
, a granduncle of Sverre Hagerup Bull
Sverre Hagerup Bull
Sverre Hagerup Bull was a Norwegian banker, composer and writer.He was born in Kristiania as a son of politician Edvard Hagerup Bull. He was a nephew of architect Schak Bull, and a grandnephew of painter Knud Bull, violinist Ole Bull and architect Georg Andreas Bull.He wrote several operettes...
and a second cousin of Johan Randulf Bull
Johan Randulf Bull
Johan Randulf Bull was a Norwegian judge.He was born in Stod, as the brother of Johan Lausen Bull. He took the jurist examination in Copenhagen in 1778, and was a member of Det Norske Selskab there...
and Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull.
He was married to Emilie Constance Hjelm, and father of architect Henrik Bull
Henrik Bull
Henrik Bull was a Norwegian architect and designer. Among his works are the Paulus Church at Grünerløkka in Oslo, the National Theater, the Historical Museum in Oslo, and the Government Building. He also designed coins for Norges Bank, and participated at the Kristiania Jubilée exhibition at...
. He had nine children, and died in Bestum in Ullern
Ullern
Ullern is an affluent borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.- History :The borough has its name from an old farm, Norse Ullarin. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the Norse god Ullr. The last element is vin, meaning pasture or meadow. In Medieval times, the farm belonged to the...
in 1917.
Career
Bull received drawing lessons in Bergen by the German architect and painter Franz Wilhelm Schiertz from 1843 to 1845. He then studied machine engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the Polytechnische Schule in Hannover from 1846 to 1850, and continued his studies in England. After his engineering studies he made archeological studies of the Haakon's Hall in Bergen, other buildings from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, including 20 stave church
Stave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
es. He studied architecture at the Berliner Bauakademie
Bauakademie
The Bauakademie in Berlin, Germany, built between 1832 and 1836, is considered one of the forerunners of modern architecture due to its theretofore uncommon use of red brick and the relatively streamlined facade of the building.Designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the Bauakademie was built near...
from 1855 to 1856. He started working as an architect in Kristiania in 1857, where his first significant work was Christiania Dampkjøkken. After a major fire in Kristiania in 1858 he started planning the villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
area Homansbyen
Homansbyen
Homansbyen is a neighborhood in Frogner borough in Oslo, Norway. The area is named for the lawyer brothers Jacob and Henrik Homan .-Area:...
, where he also designed many of the buildings, during the period from 1858 to 1866. He was architect for Statsbanene from 1863 to 1872.
Bull's designs ranged from churches, villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
s and train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
s to interiors and storehouses. Among his works are the two train stations in Oslo, Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo West Station or Oslo V, is a former railway station located in Vika in Oslo, Norway. It was the terminus of the Drammen Line between 1872 and 1980, until the Oslo Tunnel opened. The station remained in use until 1989, when all traffic was moved to the new Oslo Central Station...
and Østbanen, and altogether about sixty train stations throughout the country. He designed railway stations of the Krøder Line, including the Krøderen Station (1872), and of the Grensebanen, including Åbogen Station (1865), Matrand Station (1865) and Magnor Station (1865).
Bull was a board member of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments from 1853 to 1864, and of Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre
Christiania Theatre, or Kristiania Theatre, was Norway's finest stage for the spoken drama between October 4, 1836 - September 1, 1899. It was located at Bankplassen by the Akershus Fortress in central Christiania, in Norway...
from 1866. He was chairman for Selskabet for Christiania Byes Vel
Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel , often known as Oslo Byes Vel, is a non-profit heritage association for the benefit of Oslo, Norway's capital city. It was established in 1811 by Niels Wulfsberg.-History:...
from 1904 to 1908. He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1875, and was decorated Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
.