Embassy of Russia in Copenhagen
Encyclopedia
The Embassy of Russia in Copenhagen is the diplomatic mission
of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Denmark
. The chancery
is located at Kristianiagade 5 in Indre Østerbro
, Copenhagen
, and is a heritage listed building.
and margarine
magnate
, purchased three parcels of land in Østerbro
, Copenhagen
and commissioned
architect
Vilhelm Dahlerup
to design a villa
on the site. Dahlerup, who specialised in Italian Renaissance style design
had previously designed the Hotel D’Angleterre
, the Jesus Church
in Valby
, the National Gallery
, and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
, amongst others. Completed in 1899, the building of the mansion cost Mønsted half a million krone
.
The entrance was decorated with a monogram with the initials AOM (for Anna-Otto-Mønsted). The Mønsteds kept a large staff in their mansion, with gardeners creating a large garden, and in the garage Mønsted kept Copenhagen's most expensive car. The Mønsteds also bred Scottish hunting dogs and kept race horses in the barn.
In 1934, Anna Mønsted sold the mansion for 265,000 krone to Countess Musse Scheel, a Danish actress, who became the last private owner of the mansion. Scheel, an animal lover, who was widely regarded as being eccentric, kept a hen house in the yard and sold eggs to her neighbours.
During the occupation of Denmark
by Nazi Germany
, the mansion was the headquarters of the Northern Society which promoted cultural co-operation between Nazi Germany and the Nordic countries
.
In 1950, the Soviet Union
signed a contract leasing the mansion for 20,000 krone per year. In 1982, the mansion, as well as Kristianiagade 3 (consulate) and Bergensgade 11 (embassy school), were granted to the Soviets, on the basis of reciprocity, free of charge for the purpose of embassy requirements for a period of 70 years, until 31 December 2051.
The building and garage are heritage listed buildings, having entered the register of the Danish Heritage Agency on 3 December 1991.
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark or the Danish Realm , is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting of Denmark proper in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. Denmark is the hegemonial part, where the...
. The chancery
Chancery (diplomacy)
A 'Chancery' is the type of building that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy. The building can house one or several different nations' missions....
is located at Kristianiagade 5 in Indre Østerbro
Indre Østerbro
Indre Østerbro , is one of the 15 administrative, statistical, and tax city districts comprising the municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark. It lies on the eastern edge of the municipality...
, 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...
, and is a heritage listed building.
History
In 1897, Otto Mønsted, a Danish entrepreneurEntrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
, purchased three parcels of land in Østerbro
Østerbro
Østerbro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of the city centre, outside the old city gate Østerport which, after it was moved around 1700, used to be located close to present-day Østerport Station...
, 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...
and commissioned
Commission (art)
In art, a commission is the hiring and payment for the creation of a piece, often on behalf of another.In classical music, ensembles often commission pieces from composers, where the ensemble secures the composer's payment from private or public organizations or donors.- Commissions for public art...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Vilhelm Dahlerup
Vilhelm Dahlerup
Jens Vilhelm Dahlerup was a Danish architect who specialized in the Historicist style. One of the most productive and noted Danish architects of the 19th century, he is behind many of the most known buildings and landmarks of his time and has more than any other single architect contributed to the...
to design a villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
on the site. Dahlerup, who specialised in Italian Renaissance style design
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
had previously designed the Hotel D’Angleterre
Hotel D’Angleterre
Hotel d'Angleterre is one of the first deluxe hotels in the world. Situated in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located on Kongens Nytorv opposite Charlottenborg, the Royal Opera and Nyhavn. Tracing its history back to 1755, the current building was built 1873-75, the work of leading Danish architect...
, the Jesus Church
Jesus Church, Valby
The Jesus Church is a church in the Valby district of Copenhagen, Denmark, commissioned by second-generation Carlsberg brewer Carl Jacobsen and designed by Danish architect Vilhelm Dahlerup. Noted for its extensive ornamentation and artwork, it is considered to be one of the country's most...
in Valby
Valby
' is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. Located in the southwestern corner of Copenhagen Municipality, it is a heterogeneous mixture of different types of housing - including apartment blocks, terraced housing, areas with single-family houses and allotments, as well as remains...
, the National Gallery
Statens Museum for Kunst
Statens Museum for Kunst is the Danish national gallery located in Copenhagen....
, and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is an art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark...
, amongst others. Completed in 1899, the building of the mansion cost Mønsted half a million krone
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
.
The entrance was decorated with a monogram with the initials AOM (for Anna-Otto-Mønsted). The Mønsteds kept a large staff in their mansion, with gardeners creating a large garden, and in the garage Mønsted kept Copenhagen's most expensive car. The Mønsteds also bred Scottish hunting dogs and kept race horses in the barn.
In 1934, Anna Mønsted sold the mansion for 265,000 krone to Countess Musse Scheel, a Danish actress, who became the last private owner of the mansion. Scheel, an animal lover, who was widely regarded as being eccentric, kept a hen house in the yard and sold eggs to her neighbours.
During the occupation of Denmark
Occupation of Denmark
Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark began with Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish...
by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, the mansion was the headquarters of the Northern Society which promoted cultural co-operation between Nazi Germany and the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
.
In 1950, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
signed a contract leasing the mansion for 20,000 krone per year. In 1982, the mansion, as well as Kristianiagade 3 (consulate) and Bergensgade 11 (embassy school), were granted to the Soviets, on the basis of reciprocity, free of charge for the purpose of embassy requirements for a period of 70 years, until 31 December 2051.
The building and garage are heritage listed buildings, having entered the register of the Danish Heritage Agency on 3 December 1991.