Einar Oscar Schou ( 4 June 1877 - 28 December 1966) was a Norwegian architect. He is most noted for his design of Den Nationale Scene in Bergen, Norway.

Background

Einar Oscar Schou was born in Kristiania, Norway. He studied at the Royal Drawing School from 1898 to 1901. He was assistant to the architect Halfdan Berle in Oslo from 1899-1901. He studied at the Art Academy in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

between 1901-1903. After graduation, he became head of the Agi Lindgren architectural firm in Stockholm and was there for three years. In 1907, he founded his own architectural practice and ran this until after World War II. From 1935-51, he was director of the Bergen Arts School (''Bergens kunsthåndverksskole''), now part of the Bergen National Academy of the Arts.

Career

His best known work is the design of the theatre Den Nationale Scene at Engen in Bergen. In 1904, he won the competition for the theater building, where his proposal was preferred over veteran Bergen-based architect,

Henrik Bull Henrik Bull (28 March 1864 – 2 June 1953) 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 d ...

. The theater building designed by Schou opened on 19 February 1909, with King

Haakon VII of Norway Haakon VII (; born Prince Carl of Denmark; 3 August 187221 September 1957) was the King of Norway from November 1905 until his death in September 1957. Originally a Danish prince, he was born in Copenhagen as the son of the future Frederick V ...

and Queen Maud in attendance. The hall, foyer and lobby were largely destroyed during World War II. In 2001 the building was brought back almost to its original shape. Schou was Chairman of the Bergen Art Society 1914-15. He served on the Bergen city council for the Norwegian Conservative Party from 1929 to 1937 and was a member of a number of Bergen municipal councils and committees. Schou was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1909. Schou earned the

Houen Foundation Award The Houen Foundation Award ( no, Houens fonds diplom) is Norway's most important award for architecture. It was established in 1893 by Anton Christian Houen (1823–1894). A successful merchant and businessman, Houen established several phil ...

in 1912. ''1912. Einar Oscar Schou. Den Nationale Scene'' (Houens Fonds Diplom)
File:Bergens telefonkompagni.jpg, Bergens Telefonkompagni (1912) File:Fløibanestasjonen.JPG, Nedre Fløibanestasjon (1918) File:Bergen Arbeiderblad Building.jpg, Bergen Arbeiderblads (1927)

References

Other sources

*Aarseth, Asbjørn ''Den Nationale Scene : 1901-31'' (Oslo: Gyldendal. 1969) {{DEFAULTSORT:Schou, Einar Oscar 1877 births 1966 deaths Architects from Bergen Norwegian expatriates in Sweden Artists from Oslo Politicians from Bergen Conservative Party (Norway) politicians Academic staff of the Bergen Academy of Art and Design