Olaf Nordhagen
Encyclopedia
Johan Olaf Brochmann Nordhagen (16 March 1883 – 6 November 1925) was a Norwegian
architect
, engineer
and artist
.
He was born in Christiania
as a son of artist Johan Nordhagen
(1856–1956) and Christine Magdalene Brochmann Johansen (1858–1933). He was a brother of Rolf Nordhagen
and through him an uncle of Per Jonas Nordhagen
. In April 1909 in Ådal
he married farmer's daughter Thora Hval (1887–1960).
Nordhagen was educated as an engineer in Oslo and worked as an apprentice to architect Bredo Greve for several years before studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Art
while also assisting Martin Nyrop
with his designs for Copenhagen City Hall
.
Nordhagen returned to Oslo in 1906 and accepted a number of smaller commissions. His breakthrough, however, came when he won the competition to build the Bergen Public Library
in Jugendstil, for which he also won the Houen Prize.
Nordhagen designed a number of industrial structures, notably Såheim
in Rjukan
(with Thorvald Astrup
); designed several churches; and completed considerable research around Norwegian traditional architecture, but he is probably most famous for the restoration designs of the Nidaros Cathedral
. He took over project management of this work upon the death of Christian Christie
and carried it through until he died. His tendency to reinterpret Gothic
designs rather than seek a faithful reproduction of the original was controversial but was carried out.
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...
, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
.
He was born in Christiania
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...
as a son of artist Johan Nordhagen
Johan Nordhagen
Johan Nordhagen was a Norwegian painter and artist.-Childhood:Johan Nordhagen grew up in the cotters place of Nordhagen under the farm of Flisaker. His father was from Grue, and had his relatives in Finland. He worked as a cartwheel-maker. His mother Ahlis was from Veldre...
(1856–1956) and Christine Magdalene Brochmann Johansen (1858–1933). He was a brother of Rolf Nordhagen
Rolf Nordhagen (botanist)
Rolf Nordhagen is a Norwegian botanist.-Personal life:He was born in Kristiania as a son of artist Johan Nordhagen and Christine Magdalene Johansen . He was a brother of Olaf Nordhagen. In August 1925 in Oslo he married Elisabeth Marie Myhre...
and through him an uncle of Per Jonas Nordhagen
Per Jonas Nordhagen
Per Jonas Nordhagen is a Norwegian art historian.He was born in Bergen as a son of professor Rolf Nordhagen and Elisabeth Marie Myhre . He was a grandson of Johan Nordhagen and nephew of Olaf Nordhagen...
. In April 1909 in Ådal
Ådal
Ådal is a valley in the municipality of Ringerike and was a former municipality in Buskerud County, Norway.The municipality was created in 1857 by a split from Norderhov. At that time Ådal had a population of 2,382. On 1 January 1964 Ådal was merged with Hønefoss, Tyristrand, Hole and Norderhov to...
he married farmer's daughter Thora Hval (1887–1960).
Nordhagen was educated as an engineer in Oslo and worked as an apprentice to architect Bredo Greve for several years before studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Art
Royal Danish Academy of Art
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts has provided a practice-oriented complement to the scholarly investigation of the arts carried out at Danish universities for more than 250 years, playing a crucial part in the development of the distinctive tradition of the art of Denmark.- History :The Royal...
while also assisting Martin Nyrop
Martin Nyrop
Martin Nyrop was a Danish architect who designed the Copenhagen City Hall, the Vallekilde Højskole, and the majority of the buildings for the Nordic Industrial, Agricultural and Art Exhibition.-Selected buildings:...
with his designs for Copenhagen City Hall
Copenhagen City Hall
Copenhagen City Hall is the headquarters of the Municipal Council as well as the Lord mayor of the City of Copenhagen, Denmark. The building is situated on The City Hall Square in central Copenhagen....
.
Nordhagen returned to Oslo in 1906 and accepted a number of smaller commissions. His breakthrough, however, came when he won the competition to build the Bergen Public Library
Bergen Public Library
Bergen Public Library is a library building and public library institution in Bergen, Norway. Founded in 1872, it is the second largest public library in Norway...
in Jugendstil, for which he also won the Houen Prize.
Nordhagen designed a number of industrial structures, notably Såheim
Såheim Hydroelectric Power Station
The Såheim Power Station is a hydroelectric power station located in Rjukan, Telemark, Norway, operated by Norsk Hydro. It operates at an installed capacity of , with an average annual production of 1,033 GWh. The station building from 1915 was designed by architects Thorvald Astrup and Olaf...
in Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
(with Thorvald Astrup
Thorvald Astrup
Thorvald Astrup was a Norwegian architect, particularly known for industrial architecture.Born in Oslo , he was educated at Christiania Technical School in 1891-92, and Christiania Fine Art School the following year; he also attended Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg from 1896-97...
); designed several churches; and completed considerable research around Norwegian traditional architecture, but he is probably most famous for the restoration designs of the Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
. He took over project management of this work upon the death of Christian Christie
Christian Christie
Eilert Christian Brodtkorb Christie was a Norwegian architect.-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of customs officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie and Hansine Langsted...
and carried it through until he died. His tendency to reinterpret Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
designs rather than seek a faithful reproduction of the original was controversial but was carried out.