Sankt Annæ Plads
Encyclopedia
Sankt Annæ Plads is a public square
which marks the border between the Nyhavn
area and the Frederiksstaden
district in Copenhagen
, Denmark
. It is a long narrow rectangle which extends inland from the waterfront, at a point just north of the Royal Danish Playhouse
at the base of the Kvæsthusbroen pier, until it meets Bredgade
. The unusual shape is due to the square's past as a canal similar to nearby Nyhavn
. Amaliegade
, one of the two axes on which Frederiksstaden is centered, extends from the square.
The square has a central garden complex along its length with an equestrian statue of Christian X of Denmark
facing Bredgade.
. The Royal Naval Hospital, the oldest building today located on the square, was built in 1686 to the design of Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest
.
The square was created when the canal was filled in the 1750s in connection with the foundation of the ambitious new Frederiksstaden
district. The central garden complex was established in 1852. It was the result of one of the first successful initiatives of the recently founded Society for the Beautification of Copenhagen.
From 1871 DFDS
was headquartered in the former Royal Naval Hospital and for the next one hundred years they woyld dominate the square with hectic activity around the clock, both with passengers and goods.
The equestrian statue of Christian X
was added to the garden complex in 1954. It was designed by Einar Utzon-Frank
.
Eventually first cargo ships and later also passenger boats disappeared from the area. In 2003 the Royal Naval Hospital building was aqyured by the Danish Nurses' Organization which has since been headquartered in it. The neighbouring building, originally built by DFDS in 1890, has since 1871 housed the JL Foundation which owns the J. Lauritzen shipping company as well as 56 % of DFDS.
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
which marks the border between the Nyhavn
Nyhavn
Nyhavn 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...
area and the Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden is a district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Constructed during the reign of Frederick V in the second half of the 18th century and it is considered to be one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe....
district in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
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...
. It is a long narrow rectangle which extends inland from the waterfront, at a point just north of the Royal Danish Playhouse
Royal Danish Playhouse
The Royal Danish Playhouse is a theatre building for the Royal Danish Theatre, situated on the harbour front in the Frederiksstaden neighbourhood of central Copenhagen, Denmark...
at the base of the Kvæsthusbroen pier, until it meets Bredgade
Bredgade
Bredgade is one of the most prominent streets in Copenhagen, Denmark. Running in a straight line from Kongens Nytorv for just under one kilometre to the intersection of Esplanaden and Grønningen, it is one of the major streets in Frederiksstaden, a Rococo district laid out in the middle of the...
. The unusual shape is due to the square's past as a canal similar to nearby Nyhavn
Nyhavn
Nyhavn 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...
. Amaliegade
Amaliegade
Amaliegade is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark, which makes up the longer of the two axes on which the Rococo district Frederiksstaden is centred...
, one of the two axes on which Frederiksstaden is centered, extends from the square.
The square has a central garden complex along its length with an equestrian statue of Christian X of Denmark
Christian X of Denmark
Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
facing Bredgade.
History
Sankt Annæ Plads was originally the site of a canal which continued along present-day Bredgade and Esplanaden, surrounding Sophie AmalienborgSophie Amalienborg
Sophie Amalienborg was a pleasure palace roughly located where Amalienborg Palace stands today in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built by Queen Consort Sophie Amalie who lived there until her death in 1685 after her husband, King Frederick III, died a few years prior to its completion.It burnt down to...
. The Royal Naval Hospital, the oldest building today located on the square, was built in 1686 to the design of Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest
Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest
Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest was a Danish architect and sculptor, son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger and grandson of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder. Following in the footsteps of his farther and grand farther, be became a Royal Building Master in 1669...
.
The square was created when the canal was filled in the 1750s in connection with the foundation of the ambitious new Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden
Frederiksstaden is a district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Constructed during the reign of Frederick V in the second half of the 18th century and it is considered to be one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe....
district. The central garden complex was established in 1852. It was the result of one of the first successful initiatives of the recently founded Society for the Beautification of Copenhagen.
From 1871 DFDS
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
was headquartered in the former Royal Naval Hospital and for the next one hundred years they woyld dominate the square with hectic activity around the clock, both with passengers and goods.
The equestrian statue of Christian X
Christian X of Denmark
Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
was added to the garden complex in 1954. It was designed by Einar Utzon-Frank
Einar Utzon-Frank
Aksel Einar Utzon-Frank was a Danish sculptor and professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. During his lifetime, he produced a large number of sculptures, many of which stand as public monuments...
.
Eventually first cargo ships and later also passenger boats disappeared from the area. In 2003 the Royal Naval Hospital building was aqyured by the Danish Nurses' Organization which has since been headquartered in it. The neighbouring building, originally built by DFDS in 1890, has since 1871 housed the JL Foundation which owns the J. Lauritzen shipping company as well as 56 % of DFDS.
Notable buildings
- No. 1–3: Mansion designed by Gustav Friedrich HetschGustav Friedrich HetschGustav Friedrich Hetsch was a German-born, Danish architect.Hetsch was born in Stuttgart and studied at the University of Tübingen and in Paris, where his teacher was Charles Percier. After finishing his studies, he worked for Jean-Baptiste Rondelet on the Church of Sainte-Geneviève...
(1848–53) - No. 4: The Garrison Church designed by Wilhelm Friedrich von Platen (1703–86)
- No. 15: Mansion designed by Nicolai EigtvedNicolai EigtvedNicolai Eigtved, also known as Niels Eigtved, , Danish architect, introduced and was the leading proponent of the French rococo style in Danish architecture during the 1730s-1740s. He designed and built some of the most prominent buildings of his time, a number of which still stand to this day...
(1753), today housing the Embassy of Sweden in Copenhagen - No 17: Neo-GothicGothic Revival architectureThe Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
mansion from 1868, winter residence of the Knuthenborg counts - No. 19: Building from 1890 designed by Albert Jensen
- No. 24: Embassy of Finland in Copenhagen
- No. 28: Building from 1871–72 designed by Albert Jensen, now the headquarters of the JL Foundation
- Kvæsthuset, former naval hospital from 1687 designed by Hans van Steenwinckel the YoungestHans van Steenwinckel the YoungestHans van Steenwinckel the Youngest was a Danish architect and sculptor, son of Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger and grandson of Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder. Following in the footsteps of his farther and grand farther, be became a Royal Building Master in 1669...
, now the headquarters of the Danish Nurses' Organization