John Engh
Encyclopedia
John Engh was a Norwegian
architect
, most known for his innovative work in stone and concrete.
John Andreas Engh was educated at ETH Zürich
and the Norwegian Institute of Technology
, and had apprenticeships at various architectural firms in Oslo
, Barcelona
, and Pittsburgh
before being hired as an architect with the Royal Norwegian Air Force
at CFB Borden
in Canada
. During the World War II
, he served at the Norwegian bases in Canada
, where he designed and led development of the Little Norway
and Little Skaugum. He also worked for the United States
government on reconstruction projects (1943 to 1945).
Upon returning to Scandinavia
, he worked for the Scandinavian Airlines System
in Stockholm
(1945-46). He moved to Oslo where he joined in partnership with Peer Qvam
(1946-1958). In 1970 he entered into partnership with Jon Seip (Engh og Seip Arkitektkontor A/S). He sat on the board of Norwegian Architects' Association from 1952 to 1968 from 1964 as president.
His designs include the Oslo Central Station, Indekshuset at Solli plass
in Oslo and several other offices buildings. He designed the Norwegian Embassy in Brasilia
(1984) and acted as local architect for the building of the American Embassy in Oslo
which was designed by Eero Saarinen
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
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...
, most known for his innovative work in stone and concrete.
John Andreas Engh was educated at ETH Zürich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
and the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
, and had apprenticeships at various architectural firms in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
before being hired as an architect with the Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...
at CFB Borden
CFB Borden
Canadian Forces Base Borden is a Canadian Forces base located in Ontario.The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is the largest training facility in the Canadian Forces...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served at the Norwegian bases in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he designed and led development of the Little Norway
Little Norway
The Flyvåpnenes Treningsleir , the official name) or "Little Norway" was a Norwegian Army Air Service/Royal Norwegian Air Force training camp in Canada during the Second World War.-Origins:...
and Little Skaugum. He also worked for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government on reconstruction projects (1943 to 1945).
Upon returning to Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, he worked for the Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
(1945-46). He moved to Oslo where he joined in partnership with Peer Qvam
Peer Qvam
Peer Hafslo Qvam was a Norwegian architect.He was born in Holmestrand as a son of chemical engineer Olaf Hafslo Qvam and Sigrid Sørby . He enrolled as a student in 1931, and graduated in architecture from the Norwegian Institute of Technology in 1936...
(1946-1958). In 1970 he entered into partnership with Jon Seip (Engh og Seip Arkitektkontor A/S). He sat on the board of Norwegian Architects' Association from 1952 to 1968 from 1964 as president.
His designs include the Oslo Central Station, Indekshuset at Solli plass
Solli plass
Solli plass, also called Lapsetorvet, is a square in Oslo, Norway, located southwest of Slottsparken and the Royal Palace.The square is elliptical in shape. In the southwest lies the National Library of Norway. Further east are several commercial buildings, and the headquarters of the Federation of...
in Oslo and several other offices buildings. He designed the Norwegian Embassy in Brasilia
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
(1984) and acted as local architect for the building of the American Embassy in Oslo
Norway-United States relations
Norway – United States relations are bilateral relations between Norway and the United States. The United States and Norway have a long tradition of positive relations....
which was designed by Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
.