Villa Grande is a property on
Bygdøy in
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
, Norway. The main building is located on top of a hill, raised above the surrounding residential buildings.
History
The construction of the building began in 1917, designed by the architects
Christian Morgenstierne (1880–1967) and
Arne Eide (1881-1957). The original owner was
Sam Eyde, founder of
Norsk Hydro. He sold the incomplete building after one year. Subsequent owner
Henrik Østervold
Henrik Østervold (13 January 1878 – 21 August 1957) was a Norwegian sailor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische ...
(1878-1957)
engaged architect
Jens Zetlitz Monrad Kielland
Jens Zetlitz Monrad Kielland ( – ) was a Norwegian architect, professor and author.
Personal life
Jens Kielland was a member of the prominent Kielland family. He was born in Stavanger to parish priest and politician Jacob Kielland (1841†...
(1866–1926) to prepare new and reduced building plans. Østervold built the building in the period 1918-21. In 1921,
Aker Municipality took over the property. In 1926, shipowner
Wilh. Wilhelmsen (1872–1955) handed over Villa Grande as a gift to the Norwegian government.
In 1941, it was finished and furnished as a residence for
Maria (1900–1980) and
Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945). They lived there until the latter was arrested in 1945. During this period the villa was known as ''
Gimlé''.
After Maria Quisling had been evicted, General
Andrew Thorne
General Sir Augustus Francis Andrew Nicol Thorne, (20 September 1885 – 25 September 1970) was a senior British Army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars, where he commanded the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division during th ...
(1885–1970),
commander-in-chief of Allied forces in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
, together with his staff, used Villa Grande as their headquarters from 22 May 1945. They stayed until 31 October, when Thorne went back to
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
.
Since 2006, Villa Grande has housed the Norwegian research institution
Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities.
[ ]
Gallery
File:Villa Grande 8.jpg
File:Bygdöy IMG 4838 villa grande rk 90331.JPG
File:Villa Grande 3.jpg
References
External links
Website of Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious MinoritiesSpecifically about Villa Grande on the website of ''HL-senteret''
Buildings and structures in Oslo
Bygdøy
Houses in Norway
Vidkun Quisling
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