Jens Christian Kofoed
Encyclopedia
Jens Christian Kofoed was a Danish
architect who adopted the Historicist style
inspired by Italian architecture from the Middle Ages. He is remembered above all for his churches, seamen's homes and hostels.
, first became a carpenter in Nexø
before attending the School of Architecture at the Danish Academy from 1888 to 1896. Many of his buildings are built of red brick with tiled roofs and have either rectangular or rounded windows. His hostel on Dragør
was inspired by central Italian architecture from the Middle Ages.
In 1924, he won a bronze Olympic medal for designing a stadium for the Paris games. He travelled widely in western Europe until 1906 and exhibited his work both in Denmark and Germany.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
architect who adopted the Historicist style
Historicism (art)
Historicism refers to artistic styles that draw their inspiration from copying historic styles or artisans. After neo-classicism, which could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by a return to a more ancient classicism, in particular in...
inspired by Italian architecture from the Middle Ages. He is remembered above all for his churches, seamen's homes and hostels.
Biography
Kofoed, the son of Maurits Markmann Kofoed and Karen Kirstine Hansen who were farmers on the Danish island of BornholmBornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, first became a carpenter in Nexø
Nexø
Nexø is a town on the eastern coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark. With a population of 3,762 , it is the second largest town, as well as the largest fishing port on the island. Fishing is the mainstay of the town economy. Nexø is also the site of a distillery and a mustard factory...
before attending the School of Architecture at the Danish Academy from 1888 to 1896. Many of his buildings are built of red brick with tiled roofs and have either rectangular or rounded windows. His hostel on Dragør
Dragør
Dragør Kommune is a municipality in Copenhagen County on the southern coast of the island of Amager just east of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 18 km², and has a total population of 13,411...
was inspired by central Italian architecture from the Middle Ages.
In 1924, he won a bronze Olympic medal for designing a stadium for the Paris games. He travelled widely in western Europe until 1906 and exhibited his work both in Denmark and Germany.
Works
- Missionshus, Bymandsgade 2, DragørDragørDragør Kommune is a municipality in Copenhagen County on the southern coast of the island of Amager just east of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 18 km², and has a total population of 13,411...
(1897) - KFUM-borgen (YMCA hostel), Gothersgade/Tornebuskegade, Copenhagen (1898-1901)
- Villa Skodsborg, Skodsborg Strandvej 85, SkodsborgSkodsborgSkodsborg is a small town/suburb approx. 20 km. north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The town has a population of 1,169 and lies in Rudersdal Kommune. The town is a coastal town but doesn't have a marina....
- YMCA, Klostergade 37, Århus (1903)
- Sømandshjemmet (Seamen's home), Gl. havn, EsbjergEsbjergEsbjerg Municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. Its mayor is Johnny Søtrup, from the Venstre political party...
(1903) - Centralbygning, Forchhammersvej 4-6, FrederiksbergFrederiksbergFrederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
(1903-05) - Sømandshjemmet Bethel, NyhavnNyhavnNyhavn is a 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the harbour front just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants...
22-24 (1909) - Sømandshjemmet, SkagenSkagenSkagen is a projection of land and a town, with a population of 8,515 , in Region Nordjylland on the northernmost tip of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark...
Havn (1909) - Mortuary, Allinge Church (1907)
- Vesterhede Church (1909-10)
- Rectory, Hejnsvig (1910)
- Timotheus Kirke (St Timothy's Church), Christen Bergs Allé 5, Copenhagen (1911)
- Restoration of Jerusalem's Church, Rigensgade, Copenhagen (1914)
- Housing, for example in the Stockholmsgade area, around Skt. Jakobs Gade and Østerbrogade and on Enghave Plads