Harald Aars
Encyclopedia
Harald Aars was a Norwegian architect.
as a son of educator Jacob Jonathan Aars (1837–1908) and his wife Anna Ernesta Birch-Reichenwald (1838–1919). He was the brother of academic Kristian Aars, a grandson of Christian Birch-Reichenwald
and a great-grandson of Peter Motzfeldt
. He was also a grandnephew of priest and politician Jens Aars
and a second cousin of writer Sophus Christian Munk Aars
. In 1899 he married Anna Dybwad Berentzen (1878–1947), a maternal granddaughter of Jacob Dybwad
.
, Walter Crane
, C. R. Ashbee, the Art Workers Guild
and the Arts and Crafts Movement
. He later stayed in the United Kingdom
and France from 1901 to 1902, and also had stays in Italy
and Greece
.
In Norway he was an assistant of Holger Sinding-Larsen
from 1899 to 1901 and for the city architect of Kristiania from 1902 to 1904. From 1904 to 1919 he had his own architect's office. He worked with Harald Hals og Lorentz Harboe Ree
, especially from 1915. Most of his buildings were raised in the districts of Frogner
, St. Hanshaugen
and Bislett
. A common style, especially around 1920, was the "Nordic neo-baroque
". From 1920 to 1940 he was the city architect of Kristiania/Oslo. In this position he was especially responsible for construction of schools.
He had been a member of the school board from 1909 to 1911 and of the city council executive committee from 1911 to 1916. He presided over the National Association of Norwegian Architects from 1918 to 1919 and Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
from 1927 to 1937. He was a co-editor of Teknisk Ukeblad
from 1907 to 1912, and introducted an architecture section in the magazine. He also edited architectural magazines, and wrote the chapter Arkitekturen i det 19. og 20. aarhundrede in the second volume of Norges Kunsthistorie, released 1927.
Aars was decorated as a Commander of the Swedish Order of Vasa
and a Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
and the Finnish Order of the White Rose
. He died in June 1945 in Oslo.
Personal life
He was born in ChristianiaOslo
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...
as a son of educator Jacob Jonathan Aars (1837–1908) and his wife Anna Ernesta Birch-Reichenwald (1838–1919). He was the brother of academic Kristian Aars, a grandson of Christian Birch-Reichenwald
Christian Birch-Reichenwald
Christian Birch-Reichenwald was a Norwegian politician.He was born in Blaker to Paul Hansen Birch and Anna Catharina Hoffmand Stenersen. He married Jacobine Ida Sophie Motzfeldt, daughter of Peter Motzfeldt and niece of his own mother...
and a great-grandson of Peter Motzfeldt
Peter Motzfeldt
Peter Motzfeldt was a member of the constitutional assembly in Norway in 1814, then a Norwegian member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm 1814-1816, 1818-1819, 1824-1825, 1828-1829, 1831-1832, and 1834-1835, Minister of the Army 1816-1818 and 1819-1822, and Minister of Auditing...
. He was also a grandnephew of priest and politician Jens Aars
Jens Aars
Jens Aars was a Norwegian priest and politician.He was the son of district stipendiary magistrate Jacob Aars , who had migrated to Norway from Aars, Denmark in 1757. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1821, representing the constituency of Nordlands Amt...
and a second cousin of writer Sophus Christian Munk Aars
Sophus Christian Munk Aars
Sophus Christian Munk Aars was a Norwegian civil servant and writer.He was a son of priest and politician Nils Fredrik Julius Aars and his wife Sofie Elisabeth Stabel. He was a grandson of priest and politician Jens Aars and a first cousin of banker and politician Jens Ludvig Andersen Aars...
. In 1899 he married Anna Dybwad Berentzen (1878–1947), a maternal granddaughter of Jacob Dybwad
Jacob Dybwad
Jacob Dybwad was a Norwegian bookseller and publisher, and a pioneer in the Norwegian publishing trade. Dybwad was the publisher of the Norwegian almanac from 1877, and of Nordahl Rolfsen's readers for primary school in the 1890s. He was appointed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in...
.
Career
Aars finished middle school in 1890, and worked one year at Thunes Mekaniske Værksted before enrolling at construction engineering at Kristiania Technical School. He graduated in 1895, and studied architecture at the Royal College of Arts from 1897 to 1898. During this period he picked up inspiration from William MorrisWilliam Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, Walter Crane
Walter Crane
Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most prolific and influential children’s book creator of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of...
, C. R. Ashbee, the Art Workers Guild
Art Workers Guild
The Art Workers Guild or Art-Workers' Guild is an organisation established in 1884 by a group of British architects associated with the ideas of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. The guild promoted the 'unity of all the arts', denying the distinction between fine and applied art...
and the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. He later stayed in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
and France from 1901 to 1902, and also had stays in Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
and Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
.
In Norway he was an assistant of Holger Sinding-Larsen
Holger Sinding-Larsen
Petter Andreas Holger Sinding-Larsen was a Norwegian architect.He was born in Oslo.In 1920 he won a silver medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games. He created a "Building plan of a physical culture school".Sinding-Larsen is the only Norwegian medalist in art competition.-External links:*...
from 1899 to 1901 and for the city architect of Kristiania from 1902 to 1904. From 1904 to 1919 he had his own architect's office. He worked with Harald Hals og Lorentz Harboe Ree
Lorentz Harboe Ree
Lorentz Harboe Ree was a Norwegian architect.He was born in Stange, and graduated from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1915. Early on he worked with Harald Aars on several projects....
, especially from 1915. Most of his buildings were raised in the districts of Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
, St. Hanshaugen
St. Hanshaugen
St. Hanshaugen is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.-Area:It has a triangular shape, with its northern border just north of the buildings of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and Ullevål University Hospital, and south of the University of Oslo campus at Blindern...
and Bislett
Bislett
Bislett is a neighbourhood in the St. Hanshaugen borough in north-central Oslo, Norway. It is internationally famous for the Bislett Games, held at Bislett stadion....
. A common style, especially around 1920, was the "Nordic neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
". From 1920 to 1940 he was the city architect of Kristiania/Oslo. In this position he was especially responsible for construction of schools.
He had been a member of the school board from 1909 to 1911 and of the city council executive committee from 1911 to 1916. He presided over the National Association of Norwegian Architects from 1918 to 1919 and Selskabet for Oslo 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 1927 to 1937. He was a co-editor of Teknisk Ukeblad
Teknisk Ukeblad
Teknisk Ukeblad is Norway's leading engineering journal.TU has appeared weekly since 13 April 1883 and is published by Ingeniørforlaget, jointly owned by three national professional associations of engineers and architects: the Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists , Tekna , and the...
from 1907 to 1912, and introducted an architecture section in the magazine. He also edited architectural magazines, and wrote the chapter Arkitekturen i det 19. og 20. aarhundrede in the second volume of Norges Kunsthistorie, released 1927.
Aars was decorated as a Commander of the Swedish Order of Vasa
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
and a Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
and the Finnish Order of the White Rose
Order of the White Rose
The Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor,...
. He died in June 1945 in Oslo.