Peter Andreas Blix
Encyclopedia
Peter Andreas Blix was a Norwegian
architect
and engineer
best known for designing railway stations and villas in Swiss chalet style
. He was also occupied with the conservation of Norwegian stave church
es and the construction of canals in 19th century Norway.
Born in Fredriksvern, Vestfold
, he was educated at the Polytechnical School of Hanover and in Karlsruhe
. In Hanover, Blix came under the influence of the German professor and architect Conrad Wilhelm Hase
. When he returned from Germany, he was employed by Kanalvæsenet
("Channel Service"), for which government agency he researched the possibility of a canal in Tyrifjorden
.
Blix was also engaged in organizations in Norway. He was a member of the Norwegian Polytechnic Society and founded the Norwegian Engineer and Architect Association
in 1874. A controversial and headstrong personality, Blix came often in conflict with his colleagues, though Herman Major Schirmer
's obituary of him called him a "warm and generous person".
(now Stavern) south of the larger city Larvik
in Vestfold
. He was the oldest son of auditor John Gill Blix (1797–1874) and his wife Anna Dobberdine Randulff (1804–37). Blix's early childhood was marred by his mother's death when he was five years old. He eventually travelled to Kristiania
(now Oslo), the country's capital city, where he studied at the primary school Christiania Borgerskole. The school system in Norway was under reform at the time Blix studied. The Latin was to be replaced with the mother tongue; the traditional memorizing method for students was to be replaced with new, sophisticated studying methods. At Christiania Katedralskole – where Blix later took his matric, one could note the contention between the classicists (pro-Latin) and the realists (pro-Norwegian).
In 1851, Blix travelled to Hanover
, Germany
to study at the faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences at the University of Hanover. He was not the only Norwegian student at the school; there were at least 53 other Norwegians there, amongst them Paul Due
, Halvor Heyerdahl and Henrik Thrap-Meyer
. The professor Conrad Wilhelm Hase
at the university had a few years earlier installed several reforms that Blix and his students took advantage of. Blix became very influenced by Hase's Neo-Gothic
architectural style, which style he later would use on railway stations and churches in Norway. On leaving Hanover in 1854, Blix travelled to Karlsruhe where he studied for one year.
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...
and 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,...
best known for designing railway stations and villas in Swiss chalet style
Swiss chalet style
Swiss chalet style is an architectural style inspired by the chalets of Switzerland. The style originated in Germany in the early 19th century and was popular in parts of Europe and North America, notably in the architecture of Norway, the country house architecture of Sweden, Cincinnati, Ohio,...
. He was also occupied with the conservation of Norwegian stave church
Stave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
es and the construction of canals in 19th century Norway.
Born in Fredriksvern, Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
, he was educated at the Polytechnical School of Hanover and in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
. In Hanover, Blix came under the influence of the German professor and architect Conrad Wilhelm Hase
Conrad Wilhelm Hase
Conrad Wilhelm Hase was a German architect.He was a professor at the Polytechnical School of Hanover from 1849 to 1895.-References:...
. When he returned from Germany, he was employed by Kanalvæsenet
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate is a Norwegian government agency established in 1921. It is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and regulates the country's water resources and energy supply. Its mandate includes contingency planning for floods, serving as a centre of...
("Channel Service"), for which government agency he researched the possibility of a canal in Tyrifjorden
Tyrifjorden
Tyrifjorden is Norway's fifth largest lake with an area of 137 km2. It has a volume of 13 km3, is 295 meters deep at its deepest, and lies 63 meters above sea level...
.
Blix was also engaged in organizations in Norway. He was a member of the Norwegian Polytechnic Society and founded the Norwegian Engineer and Architect Association
Tekna (Norway)
Tekna is a union for graduate technical and scientific professionals in Norway.It was established in 1874 under the name Den Norske Ingeniør- og Arkitektforening . In 1912 it was reorganized as Den Norske Ingeniørforening...
in 1874. A controversial and headstrong personality, Blix came often in conflict with his colleagues, though Herman Major Schirmer
Herman Major Schirmer
Herman Major Schirmer was a Norwegian architect and historian of art. Born in Kristiania , he taught at the Royal Drawing School for 39 years...
's obituary of him called him a "warm and generous person".
Early life and education
Peter Blix was born on 4 November 1831 in the little town of FrederiksvernStavern
Stavern is a small Norwegian town located in the municipality of Larvik, south of the city of Larvik in Vestfold.The port and naval base of Stavern was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Even though it was an important port it was first given its status as a town July 1, 1942...
(now Stavern) south of the larger city Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
. He was the oldest son of auditor John Gill Blix (1797–1874) and his wife Anna Dobberdine Randulff (1804–37). Blix's early childhood was marred by his mother's death when he was five years old. He eventually travelled to Kristiania
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...
(now Oslo), the country's capital city, where he studied at the primary school Christiania Borgerskole. The school system in Norway was under reform at the time Blix studied. The Latin was to be replaced with the mother tongue; the traditional memorizing method for students was to be replaced with new, sophisticated studying methods. At Christiania Katedralskole – where Blix later took his matric, one could note the contention between the classicists (pro-Latin) and the realists (pro-Norwegian).
In 1851, Blix travelled to Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to study at the faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences at the University of Hanover. He was not the only Norwegian student at the school; there were at least 53 other Norwegians there, amongst them Paul Due
Paul Due
Paul Due was a Norwegian architect and significant contributor to the stations built by the Norwegian State Railways.-Biography:...
, Halvor Heyerdahl and Henrik Thrap-Meyer
Henrik Thrap-Meyer
Henrik Thrap-Meyer was a Norwegian architect.-Career:Henrik Thrap-Meyer was born in Bergen, Norway. He was educated at Polytechnicum in Hannover and Zurich between the years 1855-1860. He was a teacher at Bergen's Drawing School from 1860 to 1863...
. The professor Conrad Wilhelm Hase
Conrad Wilhelm Hase
Conrad Wilhelm Hase was a German architect.He was a professor at the Polytechnical School of Hanover from 1849 to 1895.-References:...
at the university had a few years earlier installed several reforms that Blix and his students took advantage of. Blix became very influenced by Hase's Neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
architectural style, which style he later would use on railway stations and churches in Norway. On leaving Hanover in 1854, Blix travelled to Karlsruhe where he studied for one year.