Johan Martin Quist
Encyclopedia
Johan Martin Quist or Qvist (1755–1818) was a Danish
architect who made a significant contribution to the city of Copenhagen
. Together with those of Andreas Hallander
, his classically styled buildings form part of the legacy of 19th century Danish Golden Age architects who reconstructed areas of the old town which had been destroyed by fire.
, winning the large silver medal in 1775 and the small gold medal in 1781.
Quist was one of the Copenhagen builders who so quickly and effectively helped to reconstruct the areas of the old town which had been destroyed by fire in June 1795. His imposing apartment buildings are inspired by Harsdorff's neoclassical style. He and his fellow builders formed a close-knit group, reinforced by their membership of the civil guard and fire corps. They married each others' daughters and widows and acted as godfathers at christenings. Huge fortunes were made as they bought plots of land, built them up and sold them again.
Quist's earliest recognised building is Lykkens Prøve, later the Christianis Institut boys school, on Vesterbro
which, in line with Hardorff's own model on Kongens Nytorv
, was decorated with four fluted pilasters in the inset central section while the lateral sections were accentuated with sandstone balconies on the first floor.
After the great fire, building regulations called for buildings on street corners to be set back to provide more room for fire engines. Quist took advantage of the new rules by designing bow-shaped corners, for example in the building on the corner of Knabrostæde and Kompagnistræde in 1797. Two years later he built an even more effective corner house at 47 Vimmelskaftet where both facades boasted pilasters on three floors.
Quist, who died in Copenhagen on 25 April 1818, is buried in Assistens Cemetery
.
on Ved Stranden. Completed in 1797 for the well-to-do consul, F.L. Gustmeyer, it is one of Copenhagen's first bourgeois residences with free-standing columns. All Quist's surviving works are now listed buildings.
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...
architect who made a significant contribution to the city 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...
. Together with those of Andreas Hallander
Andreas Hallander
Andreas Hallander was a Danish master carpenter and architect who made a significant contribution to the city of Copenhagen. Together with the buildings of Johan Martin Quist, his classically styled apartment houses form part of the legacy of 19th century Danish Golden Age architects who...
, his classically styled buildings form part of the legacy of 19th century Danish Golden Age architects who reconstructed areas of the old town which had been destroyed by fire.
Biography
Johan Martin Quist was born in Copenhagen on 3 September 1755, the son of Nicolaj Mathiessen Quist, a shoemaker, and Anna Marie Elisabeth Engelbrecht. After being trained as a mason, he studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts under the influential C.F. HarsdorffCaspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff, also known as C.F. Harsdorff, , Danish neoclassical architect is considered to be Denmark’s leading architect in the late 18th century, and is referred to as “The Father of Danish Classicism”.- Early life and training :He was born Caspar Frederik Harsdørffer in...
, winning the large silver medal in 1775 and the small gold medal in 1781.
Quist was one of the Copenhagen builders who so quickly and effectively helped to reconstruct the areas of the old town which had been destroyed by fire in June 1795. His imposing apartment buildings are inspired by Harsdorff's neoclassical style. He and his fellow builders formed a close-knit group, reinforced by their membership of the civil guard and fire corps. They married each others' daughters and widows and acted as godfathers at christenings. Huge fortunes were made as they bought plots of land, built them up and sold them again.
Quist's earliest recognised building is Lykkens Prøve, later the Christianis Institut boys school, on Vesterbro
Vesterbro
Vesterbro is one of the 15 administrative, statistical, and city tax districts comprising the municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark...
which, in line with Hardorff's own model on Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv is a public square in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally located at the end of the pedestrian street Strøget. The finest and largest square of the city, it was laid out by Christian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has an equestrian statue of...
, was decorated with four fluted pilasters in the inset central section while the lateral sections were accentuated with sandstone balconies on the first floor.
After the great fire, building regulations called for buildings on street corners to be set back to provide more room for fire engines. Quist took advantage of the new rules by designing bow-shaped corners, for example in the building on the corner of Knabrostæde and Kompagnistræde in 1797. Two years later he built an even more effective corner house at 47 Vimmelskaftet where both facades boasted pilasters on three floors.
Quist, who died in Copenhagen on 25 April 1818, is buried in Assistens Cemetery
Assistens Cemetery
Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the burial site of a large number of Danish notables as well as an important greenspace in the Nørrebro district...
.
Works
His most important work is Gustmeyers Gård opposite Christiansborg PalaceChristiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
on Ved Stranden. Completed in 1797 for the well-to-do consul, F.L. Gustmeyer, it is one of Copenhagen's first bourgeois residences with free-standing columns. All Quist's surviving works are now listed buildings.