Jørgen Hansen Koch (4 September 1787 – 30 January 1860) was a Neoclassical

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 ...

architect. He was chief of the national Danish building administration from 1835 and director of the

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts ( da, Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi - Billedkunst Skolerne) has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark. History The Royal Dan ...

from 1844 to 1849. Koch and especially his wife Ida Koch were close friends of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, who would typically visit the Koch family on Friday evenings.

Early life and education

Joch was born on 4 September 1787 in Christianshavn,

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, the son of Jørgen Hansen Koch (1746–1801), a ship builder, and Anne Cathrine née Folkersen (1758–1809). He initially apprenticed as a carpenter. He attended the

from 1807 to 1816 where he studied under

Christian Frederik Hansen Christian Frederik Hansen (29 February 1756 – 10 July 1845), known as C. F. Hansen, was the leading Danish architect between the late 18th century and the mid 19th century, and on account of his position at the Royal Danish Academy of Art (''D ...

, the leading Danish architect of the time. In 1818, together with the sculptor

Hermann Ernst Freund Hermann Ernst Freund (15 October 1786, in Uthlede, Lower Saxony – 30 June 1840, in Copenhagen) was a German-born Danish sculptor. He is remembered in particular for his figures from Nordic mythology and for the Ragnarok Frieze. Biography Bor ...

, he traveled to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

where he met Bertel Thorvaldsen and other members of the Danish artists' colony who resided in the city at that time. Freund became Thorvaldsen's assistant while Koch later continued to

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

, making him the first Danish architect educated at the Academy to visit the cradle of the Classical architecture which was the period's main source of inspiration for architects. He also visited

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

before returning to Italy. In 1822 he returned to Denmark by way of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

and

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

Career

Back in Denmark, Koch was appointed Royal Master Builder, succeeding

as the leader of the national building administration. From 1835 he also held a professorial chair at the Royal Academy and between 1844 and 1849 served as its director. In 1837 he became part of the Committee for the Foundation of Thorvaldsen's Museum. Koch was responsible for a number of renovations and reconstructions of Royal residences, including Brockdorff's Palace (1827–1828) and (1829). He also designed a number of schools, including Frederiksborg Latin School and

Roskilde Cathedral School Roskilde Cathedral School ( da, Roskilde Katedralskole, Roskilde Domskole) is a historic high school in Roskilde, Denmark. It was established around 1020 with close connections to Roskilde Cathedral. The school has since 1969 been located on Holbæ ...

(1842). In Copenhagen, he designed the

Hansen Mansion The (A. N.) Hansen Mansion (Danish language, Danish: A. N. Hansens Palæ) is a Neoclassical architecture, Neoclassical town house in the Frederiksstaden neighbourhood of central Copenhagen, Denmark. Completed in 1835 to designs by Jørgen Hansen Ko ...

(1835) in Frederiksstaden.

Family and Hans Christian Andersen link

Jørgen Koch was married to Ida Koch née Wulff, daughter of counter admiral

Peter Frederik Wulff Peter Frederik (Friderich) Wulff (26 November 1774–2 February 1842) was a Denmark, Danish naval officer. He headed the Royal Danish Naval Academy from 1824 to 1841. Wulff, his wife Henriette Wulf, and several of his children were loyal friends ...

(1774–1848) and Hanne Henriette Weinholt (1784–1836). The couple had three sons: Jørgen Hansen Koch (1829–1919), a head teacher, Peter Frederik Koch (1832–1907), a ''Justitiarius'', and Hans Henrik Koch (1836–1903), a naval officer who reached the rank of vice admiral. Jørgen and Ida Koch belonged to Hans Christian Andersen's social circle. Andersen had an open invitation to visit the family for dinner on Fridays. Andersen also developed a friendly relationship with their children which continued after the parents' death, as did the dinner arrangement on Fridays. Andersen also new other members of the Koch and Wulff families.

Herman Wilhelm Bissen Herman Wilhelm Bissen (13 October 1798 – 10 March 1868) was a Danish sculptor. Biography Bissen was born at Schleswig in the Duchy of Schleswig. He was the son of Christian Gottlieb Wilhelm Bissen (1766-1847), a farmer, and Anna Margret ...

created a portrait bust of him in 1835. Jørgen Hansen Koch died on 30 January 1860 in Copenhagen and is buried in the city's Vestre Cemetery.

Selected works

* Middelfart Town Hall,

Middelfart Middelfart is a town in central Denmark, with a population of 16,277 . The town is the municipal seat of Middelfart Municipality on the island of Funen ( da, Fyn). Etymology The name Middelfart, first recorded as "Mæthælfar" in Valdemar's Cen ...

(1823–1826, listed) *

Duebrødre Kloster Duebrødre Kloster is a historical building located at the corner of Bredegade and Allehelgensgade in central Roskilde, Denmark. It was built in 1841 to design by Jørgen Hansen Koch. Duebrødre Kloster is also the name of the charitable organisat ...

Roskilde Roskilde ( , ) is a city west of Copenhagen on the Danish island of Zealand. With a population of 51,916 (), the city is a business and educational centre for the region and the 10th largest city in Denmark. It is governed by the administrative ...

, Denmark (1841) * Svendborg Town Hall,

Svendborg Svendborg () is a town on the island of Funen in south-central Denmark, and the seat of Svendborg Municipality. With a population of 27,300 (1 January 2022), Svendborg is Funen's second largest city.Hegnetslund,

Herfølge Herfølge is a suburb of the town of Køge, Denmark, located about 5 kilometers south of Køge, and is a part of Køge Municipality. The suburb is connected to Køge and Næstved by the Lille Syd railway line. Residential areas Holmebækhus ...

(1825) * Rolighed,

Vedbæk Vedbæk is a wealthy suburban neighbourhood on the coast north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It belongs to Rudersdal Municipality and has merged with the town of Hørsholm to the north. The area has been inhabited for at least 7,000 years, as evidenced ...

(1825) * Meyers Minde, Krystalgade 12, Copenhagen (1826) * Borgerskole, Svendborg (1830–1831, demolished) *

Skuldelev Rectory Skuldelev is a town in the Frederikssund Municipality in North Zealand, Denmark. It is located 5km northeast of Skibby, 11km south of Jægerspris Jægerspris is a town, with a population of 4,020 (1 January 2022),

, Skuldelev (1830) * Quarantine station, Kyholm (1831, demolished in 1859) * Klitfogedbolig,

Skagen Skagen () is Denmark's northernmost town, on the east coast of the Skagen Odde peninsula in the far north of Jutland, part of Frederikshavn Municipality in Nordjylland, north of Frederikshavn and northeast of Aalborg. The Port of Skage ...

(1831–1832) * Rosenborg Brøndanstalt, Gothersgade 64, Copenhagen (1833, demolished in 1928) * Frederiksborg Latin School, Sdr. Jernbanevej 4,

Hillerød Hillerød () is a Danish town with a population of 35,357 (1 January 2022)Ferdinand Meldahl in 1882–1885, listed) *

Fredericiagade Fredericiagade () is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It runs from Amaliegade in the south to Rigensgade in the north. History Fredericiagade traces its history back to Christian IV of Denmark, Christian IV's foundation of Nyboder naval ...

21, Copenhagen (1835, extension by Aage Nielsen in 1957) * Store Heddinge Town Hall, Store Heddinge (1838, later expanded) * Gardener's House, Sorgenfri Palace (1840) * Volkersen House, Jagtvej, Copenhagen (1841, demolished) * Avlsbygninger,

Bregentved Bregentved is a manor house located 3 km east of Haslev on the Danish island of Zealand. It has been owned by the Moltke family since the middle of the 18th century. History Early history The first known reference to Bregentved is from 1 ...

(1841, demolished) * Kærup Manor, Benløse (1841–1842) *

(1842, adapted in 1980, listed) * Helsingør Customs House,

Helsingør Helsingør ( , ; sv, Helsingör), classically known in English as Elsinore ( ), is a city in eastern Denmark. Helsingør Municipality had a population of 62,686 on 1 January 2018. Helsingør and Helsingborg in Sweden together form the northe ...

(1844, demolished in 1889) * Rudkøbing Town Hall,

Rudkøbing Rudkøbing is a town in Denmark, on the western coast of the island of Langeland. It is the seat of Langeland Municipality, in the Southern Denmark Region. The town is located southeast of Svendborg and is connected to Siø through the Siø ...

(1845) * Ringsted Town Hall,

Ringsted Ringsted is a city located centrally in the Danish island of Zealand. It is the seat of a municipality of the same name. Ringsted is situated approximately 60 km from Copenhagen. Tourism and transport Ringsted is one of Denmark's busies ...

(1845) * Odense Cathedral School,

Odense Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (behind Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2022, the city proper had a population of 180,863 while Odense Municipality had a population of 20 ...

(1845–1846) * Reykjavík Latin School,

Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...

(1845) * Farmhouse,

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

* Own house, stable and carriagehouse,

Ny Kongensgade Ny Kongensgade (literally "New King's Street) is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Frederiksholm Canal to H. C. Andersens Boulevard. In the opposite direction, The Prince's Bridge connects the street to Tøjhusgade on Slotsholme ...

15, Copenhagen (1847, demolished) * Farmhouse, Vallø Castle (1852) * Farmhouse, Vallø (1854) * Voldbro, Vallø Castle (1856)

Extensions, adaptions and refurbishments

Royal Danish Academy of Surgery The Royal Danish Academy of Surgery (Danish: Det Kongelige Kirurgiske Akademi), or Academia Chirurgorum Regia, was an educational institution which existed from 1785 until 1842 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Its former building at Bredgade now houses Med ...

, Bredgade 62, Copenhagen (1823) * Sæby Church, Sæby,

Hornsherred Hornsherred () is a peninsula between Roskilde Fjord and Isefjord on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. It falls within the expanded Frederikssund municipality and includes Jægerspris and Skibby and before 1 January 2007 a part of Bramsn ...

(1823) * Lindegården,

(1827, demolished) * Extension of

Royal Danish Library The Royal Library ( da, Det Kongelige Bibliotek) in Copenhagen is the national library of Denmark and the university library of the University of Copenhagen. It is among the largest libraries in the world and the largest in the Nordic countries ...

, Copenhagen (1827, 20 columns and other elements now in Museet på Koldinghus) * Holstein Mansion, Stormgade 10, Copenhagen (1827) * Fasangården,

Frederiksberg Park Frederiksberg Gardens ( Danish: Frederiksberg Have) is one of the largest and most attractive greenspaces in Copenhagen, Denmark. Together with the adjacent Søndermarken it forms a green area of 64 hectares at the western edge of Inner Copenhage ...

(1828) * Amalienborg, Brockdorff's Palace, Copenhagen (1827–1828) * Moltke Mansion, proposed change * , Bredgade 42, Copenhagen (1829) *

Charlottenlund Palace Charlottenlund Palace ( da, Charlottenlund Slot) is a former royal summer residence in Charlottenlund, some north of central Copenhagen, Denmark. The palace was named after Princess Charlotte Amalie, who was responsible for the construction of th ...

, Copenhagen *

Frederiksberg Palace Frederiksberg Palace ( da, Frederiksberg Slot) is a Baroque residence, located in Frederiksberg, Denmark, adjacent to the Copenhagen Zoo. It commands an impressive view over Frederiksberg Gardens, originally designed as a palace garden in the ...

, Copenhagen (1828) * Gatehouse at Frederiksborg Palace, construction of gate building (1829) * Justo,

, Frederiksberg (1834, extended and altered by Christian Klingsey 1900) * Stændersal, Viborg (1834) * Stændersal,

(1835, Yellow Mansion) * Cantor's House, Vallø (1836) *

Royal Danish Theatre The Royal Danish Theatre (RDT, Danish: ') is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first s ...

, Copenhagen (1837, demolished in 1874) * Elers Kollegium, Store Kannikestræde 9, Copenhagen (1837) * Kiel Palace (1838, demolished after WW2 bombing) *

Odense Slot Odense Palace ( da, Odense Slot) in the city of Odense on the Danish island of Funen has its origins in a 15th-century monastery which passed to the Crown after the Reformation, and since then has served as an administrative building: in turn as ...

, southeast wing (1837), garden, smst. (1840) and interior, smst. (1841) * Frederiksgave, Assens, Denmark (1841) * Court Theatre, Christiansborg Ridehus, Copenhagen (1842) * Gottorp Castle (1842) * Yellow Mansion,

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. Amaliegade extends from Sankt Annæ Plads to Esplanaden, passing through the central plaza ...

18, Copenhagen (1842) *

Bernstorff Palace Bernstorff Palace ( da, Bernstorff Slot) in Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark, was built in the middle of the 18th century for Foreign Minister Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff. It remained in the possession of the Bernstorff family until 1 ...

, Jægersborg Allé (1844) * Aarhus Cathedral School, Skolegyde, Aarhus (1847–1849, expanded by

Hack Kampmann Hack Kampmann (6 September 1856 – 27 June 1920) was a Danish architect, Royal Inspector of Listed State Buildings in Jutland and professor at the architecture department of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus, ...

1904, C.F. Møller 1957) * Slagelse Hospital, south wing, Slagelse (1848) * Ladegården, new wing, Frederiksberg (1848, demolished 1930) *

Frederiksborg Castle Frederiksborg Castle ( da, Frederiksborg Slot) is a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century, replacing an older castle acquired by Frederick ...

, Badstuen, along with barracks and stables (1849) * Prince's Mansion, Copenhagen (1849, now

Nationalmuseet The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) in Copenhagen is Denmark's largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main building is located a short distance from Strøget ...

) * Børsen, Copenhagen

Unrealized projects

* Theater and yard (1824) *

Hellerupgård Hellerupgård, namesake of the district Hellerup as well as the street Hellerupgårdsvej, is a former country house situated at Hellerupgårdsvej 20 in Gentofte Municipality north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The main building from 180203 was designed ...

, veranda (1825) * Warehouse (1827) * Manor and stable (1829) * City hall (awarded, 1833) * Thorvaldsen's Museum (1839, competition submission) * More designs for pavilions (1842 and undated) * Main building (1850) * Designs for prisons and jails (1840) * Furniture; royal sarcophagus (1850)

Other works

* Decoration for Adam Wilhelm Moltke's wedding (1823) * Living room at

(1824)

Burial monuments

* Tombstone for Niels Rosenkrantz, Rye Kirke (1824) * Tombstone for Minna von Witzleben, Vemmetofte (1849) * Sarcophagus for doctor , St. Peter's Church (1824) * Sarcophagus for

landgrave Landgrave (german: Landgraf, nl, landgraaf, sv, lantgreve, french: landgrave; la, comes magnus, ', ', ', ', ') was a noble title used in the Holy Roman Empire, and later on in its former territories. The German titles of ', ' (" margrave"), ...

(1834) * Sarcophagus for Christian VIII (1848, Roskilde Domkirke)

Written works

* , Kunstforeningen, Copenhagen 1834.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koch, Jorgen Hansen Architects from Copenhagen 1787 births 1860 deaths Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni Directors of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Commanders First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog Burials at Assistens Cemetery (Copenhagen)