Victor Alexandrovich Nilsen (russian: Виктор Александрович Нильсен, born in 1871 in Saint Petersburg ; died in 1949 in Dushanbe) was an engineer, city architect of Mariupol from 1901 to 1917 and publicist and a deputy in the Mariupol Duma (city council).

History

Nilsen was a man of

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

and

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origin. Victor had two brothers and a sister. He studied in St. Petersburg, where he graduated from the Institute of Engineers. He began to work as an architect and engineer in the city of Rybinsk on the Volga. In 1900 he was appointed by the mayor of Mariupol Ivan Alexeyevich Popov as architect of the city of Mariupol. The predecessors were Samuel Jossipovitch Ber and Adolf Gustavovitch Emerik. The architect Victor Nilsen designed and built the Saints Constantine and Helen Church between 1903 and 1911. The Old tower was also designed by this architect and was completed in 1910. He also designed and built his two houses. A house is located opposite the city garden at 49 Semenichina Street and has the nickname “ House of the weeping nymphs.'' Vikroriya Rymshan: Таємниці Маріуполя: що сталося з особняком архітектора Нільсена ''
(English:"Secrets of Mariupol: What happened to the villa of the architect Nielsen?") The city architect dedicated this building to his daughter, who died of

typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

. In her honor, he placed a face of a

nymph A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label= Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...

on the house. The nymph's face is similar to the face of Nielsen's daughter, who died of typhus. When it rains, drops flow down the face like tears. It seems that the nymph is crying about the dead girl. Nilsen's other house was the House of the Lions. In addition, he designed and built in 1911 the eparchial school (now Pryazovskyi State Technical University) . The other buildings were the Nikopol Factory School (now Secondary School No. 21) and the “Spartak” Hotel.

Buildings

Mariupol P.Nilsen's house.jpg, House of the weeping nymphs, Дом "Гугеля".jpg, House of the Lions, Вул. Італійська (Апатова), 115.jpg, Pryazovskyi State Technical University, Во время ВОВ - еврейское гетто.jpg, door of the Pryazovskyi State Technical University Маріуполь, Слободка, церква Св. Костянтина і Єлени (2).png, Saints Constantine and Helen Church (Mariupol) Стара вежа (Маріуполь) 4.jpg, The Old tower

References

{{Reflist Architects from Saint Petersburg 1871 births 1949 deaths Russian people of Danish descent Russian people of German descent