Courthouse and Jail, Esbjerg

Last updated
Esbjerg's old courthouse building Esbjerg Torvet.jpg
Esbjerg's old courthouse building

The former Courthouse and Jail (Danish : Ting- og Arresthuset) in Esbjerg, Denmark, was designed by Hans Christian Amberg and completed in 1892 on the city's central square. At the time, Esbjerg had only 4,000 inhabitants but ten years later it had grown to around 13,000. [1]

History and architecture

The red-brick building with stepped gable's, round-arched windows and a tower reaching 30 m (98 ft) in height resembles a medieval castle. Built in the imposing Historicist style, it owes its existence to the rapidly expanding local population who had purchased the land and pressed for permission to build a courthouse since the 1870s. Hans Christian Amberg who designed the building is remembered principally for his work on Ribe Cathedral. The courthouse is one of the few buildings he designed from scratch, most of his work being devoted to restoration. [2]

The building also housed the meeting room for the municipal council as well as the legal authorities and the police department. The premises were however too small for the city's requirements and by 1960 the municipal authorities had offices at 13 different locations in the city centre. Work finally began on the construction of a new town hall in 1967 although the Courthouse Building remained in use until the end of 1970. In 2002, the municipal authorities once again moved into the building when the newly restored wedding hall above the main entrance came into use. [3]

In 2010, Realdania purchased the dilapidated building in order to undertake renovation and refurbishment. The work was completed in August 2013 providing premises suitable for weddings as well as for the needs of the municipal tourist office and the social services. Esbjerg's mayor, Johnny Søtrup, commented: "The building was an important component in the story of Esbjerg's development. A building from and for the citizens of Esbjerg... We look forward to developing activities in it for the benefit of our city, citizens and visitors." [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odense</span> City in Southern Denmark, Denmark

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2024, the city proper had a population of 183,763 while Odense Municipality had a population of 209,078, making it the fourth largest municipality in Denmark. Eurostat and OECD have used a definition for the Metropolitan area of Odense, which includes all municipalities in the Province of Funen, with a total population of 504,066 as of 1 July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tórshavn</span> Capital of the Faroe Islands

Tórshavn, usually locally referred to as simply Havn, is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of the city lies the 347-meter-high (1,138 ft) mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the 350-meter-high (1,150 ft) Kirkjubøreyn. They are separated by the Sandá River. The city itself has a population of 14,099 (2024), and the greater urban area has a population of 23,194, including the suburbs of Hoyvík and Argir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esbjerg Municipality</span> Municipality in Southern Denmark, Denmark

Esbjerg Municipality is a kommune in the Region of Southern Denmark on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. Its mayor is Jesper Frost Rasmussen, from the Venstre political party. By 1 January 2007, the old Esbjerg municipality was, as the result of Kommunalreformen, merged with the former Bramming and Ribe and a small part of Helle municipalities to form the new Esbjerg municipality. This municipality has an area of 741 km2 and a total population of 115,423 (2024).

Higher education in Denmark is offered by a range of universities, university colleges, business academies and specialised institutions. The national higher education system is in accordance with the Bologna Process, with bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees. The majority of higher education institutions are the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science; however, some higher education institutions within the arts are the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture.

The year 1892 in architecture involved some significant events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danmarks Nationalbank</span> Danish central bank

Danmarks Nationalbank is the central bank of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is a non-eurozone member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). Since its establishment in 1818, the objective of the Nationalbank as an independent and credible institution is to issue the Danish currency, the krone, and ensure its stability. The Board of Governors holds full responsibility for the monetary policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esbjerg</span> Place in Southern Denmark, Denmark

Esbjerg is a seaport city and seat of Esbjerg Municipality on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. By road, it is 71 kilometres (44 mi) west of Kolding and 164 kilometres (102 mi) southwest of Aarhus. With an urban population of 71,505 it is the fifth-largest city in Denmark, and the largest in West Jutland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copenhagen Court House</span> Historic building in Copenhagen

The Copenhagen Court House is a historic building located on Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally built as a combined city hall and courthouse, it now serves as the seat of the District Court of Copenhagen. Inaugurated in 1815, it was built to the design of Christian Frederik Hansen in Neoclassical style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Christian Amberg (architect)</span> Danish architect

Hans Christian Amberg was a Danish architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Campus (University of Copenhagen)</span>

The City Campus is one of the University of Copenhagen's four campuses in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is home to the Faculty of Social Sciences and parts of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Science. The main campus area, the Center for Health and Society, is situated on Øster Farimagsgade, across the street from the University's Botanical Garden, which is also part of the campus area. The City Campus also comprises a building on Øster Voldgade and the university headquarters on Frue Plads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisheries and Maritime Museum, Esbjerg</span>

The Fisheries and Maritime Museum is a privately owned museum in Esbjerg, Denmark. Opened to the public in 1968, it consists of a saltwater aquarium for native species and a "sealarium" as well as indoor and outdoor exhibitions on Danish fisheries and shipping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esbjerg Art Museum</span>

The Esbjerg Art Museum is an independently owned art museum in Esbjerg in southwest Jutland, Denmark. Founded in 1910, in 1962 it moved into a new building in the City Park designed by Jytte og Ove Tapdrup. Since 1997, the museum has formed part of a complex which also contains the Esbjerg Performing Arts Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esbjerg Printing Museum</span>

The Esbjerg Printing Museum is located in the city of Esbjerg in the southwest of Jutland, Denmark. Established in 1979, it traces the history of the art of printing from the beginning of the 20th century until it was replaced by more rapid technologies. The collection includes a variety of equipment used to print books and newspapers, mainly from Germany and Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Christian IX, Esbjerg</span>

An equestrian statue of Christian IX stands on the market place in the centre of Esbjerg, Denmark. Designed in bronze by Ludvig Brandstrup, it was completed in 1899.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dronning Louise, Esbjerg</span> Restaurant and pub in Esbjerg, Denmark

The Dronning Louise is a restaurant and pub in the centre of Esbjerg, Denmark. A listed building since 1989, its facade overlooking the market place was fully restored in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odense Palace</span> Palace in the Danish city of Odense

Odense Palace 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 a seigneurial residence, an amt administrator's residence, a governor's residence, and a municipal government building. The main white Baroque building with 13 bays was designed by J.C. Krieger and completed in 1723.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roskilde Barracks</span>

Roskilde Barracks, now known as Kildegården, is a former military barracks on Helligkorsvej in Roskilde, Denmark. The buildings are now owned by Roskilde Municipality and used as a hub for local sports clubs and other public associations and societies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aarhus Courthouse</span>

The Aarhus Courthouse is a historic building located on Vester Allé in Aarhus, Denmark. Originally built as a combined Courthouse and jail, it now serves as the seat of Aarhus County Court while the High Court of Western Denmark, based in Viborg, has a courtroom there. Inaugurated in 1906, it was built to the design of L.A. Ludvigsen and Julius Hansen in the Art Nouveau style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valdemarsgade</span> Street in Copenhagen, Denmark

Valdemarsgade is a street in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It runs from Vesterbrogade in the north to Sønder Boulevard in the south, intersecting Istedgade and Dybølsgade on the way. St. Matthew's Church, Vesterbro's oldest and largest church, is located in the street. Most of the street is lined with five-storey, late 18th-century apartment blocks but its northern end stands out from the surrounding neighbourhood with its low, detached buildings with small front gardens. One of the properties, De Suhrske Friboliger, is listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Town Hall (Store Heddinge)</span> Building in Store Heddinge

The Old Town Hall is a former combined town hall, courthouse and jailhouse situated on Nytorv in Store Heddinge, Denmark. It was listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1977.

References

  1. "Amberg's Courthouse in Esbjerg". Visit Esbjerg. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Åbent hus i ting- og arresthuset på Torvet i Esbjerg" (in Danish). Ugeavisen Esbjerg. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  3. "Rådhusets historie" (in Danish). Esbjerg Kommune. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.

55°28′01″N8°27′09″E / 55.46694°N 8.45250°E / 55.46694; 8.45250