Blågårds Plads
Encyclopedia
Blågårds Plads is a public square
attached to Blågårdsgade, a side street to Nørrebrogade in the Nørrebro
district of Copenhagen
, Denmark
. It is a popular venue for events and various activities in the summer time.
and Peter von Scholten
.
to convert the property into an iron foundry. From 1852 to 1889, Copenhagen's old fortification ring
was gradually decommissioned and the area began to undergo rapid urbanization, becoming one of the densest and poorest parts of the city.
he foundry's highly polluting activities posed a severe health hazard and the neighbourhood became known as the Black Square
(Danish: Den Sorte Firkant).
.
In the 1980s, the old buildings on two sides of the square were demolished and replaced by new houses.
in collaboration with the architect Ivar Bentsen
, they depict people plying a trade—a tailor, a cooper, a barber and a baker etc.—all in the company of a toddler. In the corners stand larger figure groups depicting playing children.
Public Square
Public Square is the central plaza in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It takes up four city blocks; Superior Avenue and Ontario Street cross through it. Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, 200 Public Square and the Terminal Tower, face the square...
attached to Blågårdsgade, a side street to Nørrebrogade in the Nørrebro
Nørrebro
Nørrebro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is northwest of the city centre, beyond the location of the old Northern Gate , which, until dismantled in 1856, was near the current Nørreport station.-Geography:...
district of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It is a popular venue for events and various activities in the summer time.
History
The garden
The square takes its name from a country estate, Blågård (English:Blue House), which in the middle of the 17th century was established at the site by Christoffer Gabel on the grounds of a former tileworks. Later owners included Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Prince CharlesPrince Charles of Denmark
Prince Charles of Denmark was the youngest son of Christian V of Denmark and his consort Queen Charlotte Amalie, and thus a younger brother of King Frederick IV. He never married and had no children, nor did he ever engage in any political activities...
and Peter von Scholten
Peter von Scholten
Peter Carl Frederik von Scholten was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1827 to 1848. He was born in Vestervig, Thy, Denmark as the son of captain Casimir von Scholten and Catharina Elisabeth de Moldrup....
.
The foundry
In 1827 the owner obtained a licence from King Frederick VIFrederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
to convert the property into an iron foundry. From 1852 to 1889, Copenhagen's old fortification ring
Fortifications of Copenhagen (17th century)
The fortifications of Copenhagen underwent a comprehensive modernization and expansion in the 17th century. The project was commenced and largely masterplanned by Christian IV in the early 17th century but continued and completed by his successors...
was gradually decommissioned and the area began to undergo rapid urbanization, becoming one of the densest and poorest parts of the city.
he foundry's highly polluting activities posed a severe health hazard and the neighbourhood became known as the Black Square
Square (geometry)
In geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral. This means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles...
(Danish: Den Sorte Firkant).
The square
In 1898 the City acquired the property to turn it into a public space. The first square was laid out in 1902, enclosed by two rows of large-leaved Linden treesTilia platyphyllos
Tilia platyphyllos is a deciduous tree native to much of Europe, including locally in southwestern Great Britain, growing on lime-rich soils. The common name Large-leaved Linden is in standard use throughout the English-speaking world except in Britain, where it has largely been replaced by the...
.
In the 1980s, the old buildings on two sides of the square were demolished and replaced by new houses.
Kai Nielsen sculptures
The space is dominated by 22 granite figures integrated in a low granite wall enclosing a depressed, rectangular section in the centre of the square. Designed by sculptor Kai NielsenKai Nielsen (sculptor)
Kai Nielsen was a Danish sculptor.-Early life and education:Kai Nielsen was born on 26 November 1882 in Svendborg, the son of Christian Nielsen, a watchmaker, and his wife Ane Marie. At 15 he became an apprentice painter but was artistically inclined and began to paint landscapes and portraits...
in collaboration with the architect Ivar Bentsen
Ivar Bentsen
Ivar Bentsen was a Danish architect.-External links:*...
, they depict people plying a trade—a tailor, a cooper, a barber and a baker etc.—all in the company of a toddler. In the corners stand larger figure groups depicting playing children.
Blågårds Plads today
With a community centre, a library and several popular cafés, Blågårds Plads is a focal point for the life of the surrounding neighbourhood which is still known as the Black Square. The depressed central section serves as a football field in summer and features an ice-skating rink in winter.External links
- Pictures of Kai Nielsen's statues