Johan Albrecht Ehrenström
Encyclopedia
Johan Albrecht Ehrenström (1762–1847) was a notable Finnish architect
.
Ehrenström was a resident of what would later become Finland, in the eastern parts of the Swedish Kingdom
. Following the Swedish defeat in the Finnish War
in 1809, the region became a part of the Russian Empire
, and the city of Helsinki was promoted to be the new capital of the new Grand Duchy of Finland
. Ehrenström was selected to be the chairman of the committee in charge of rebuilding the city of Helsinki
after a fire that destroyed many of its old wooden structures in 1808.
In contrast to the old medieval-style city plan with narrow and winding alleys, Ehrenström's vision for Helsinki was one of wide streets placed on a geometric grid in the fashion of the cities of ancient Greece
. This plan was eventually approved by Tsar
Alexander I of Russia
, Grand Duke of Finland, and the city redesigned, led by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel
. After the city of Oulu
was devastated by fire in 1822, Ehrenström was tasked with drawing a new plan for it. This was finished in 1824 and ratified by the Tsar the following year.
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...
.
Ehrenström was a resident of what would later become Finland, in the eastern parts of the Swedish Kingdom
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
. Following the Swedish defeat in the Finnish War
Finnish War
The Finnish War was fought between Sweden and the Russian Empire from February 1808 to September 1809. As a result of the war, the eastern third of Sweden was established as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire...
in 1809, the region became a part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, and the city of Helsinki was promoted to be the new capital of the new Grand Duchy of Finland
Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
. Ehrenström was selected to be the chairman of the committee in charge of rebuilding the city of Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
after a fire that destroyed many of its old wooden structures in 1808.
In contrast to the old medieval-style city plan with narrow and winding alleys, Ehrenström's vision for Helsinki was one of wide streets placed on a geometric grid in the fashion of the cities of ancient Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. This plan was eventually approved by Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
, Grand Duke of Finland, and the city redesigned, led by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel
Carl Ludvig Engel
Carl Ludvig Engel, or Johann Carl Ludwig Engel , was a German architect known for his neoclassical style. He had a great impact on the architecture of Finland in the first part of the 19th century....
. After the city of Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
was devastated by fire in 1822, Ehrenström was tasked with drawing a new plan for it. This was finished in 1824 and ratified by the Tsar the following year.
Other Source
- Yrjö Reinhold Emanuel BlomstedtYrjö BlomstedtYrjö Reinhold Emanuel Blomstedt, . He was a Finnish historian, PhD 1958. Blomstedt took part in the politics of the Finnish students 1963-65...
Johan Albrecht Ehrenström. Kustavilainen ja kaupunginrakentaja (Helsinki: 1963) Finnish
External links
- Helsingin kaupungin Finnish