Skydebanehaven
Encyclopedia
Skydebanehaven is a small public park in the heart of the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen
, Denmark
. Its name refers to the former shooting range of the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society
which used to be located on the site. The most destinctive feature of the park is the Neo-Gothic
Shooting Range Wall which was constructed in 1887 to shield traffic on Istedgade
from stray bullets. The other end of the park is bounded by the rear of the former heatquarters of the Shooting Society, a Neoclassical
mansion which now houses the Museum of Copenhagen.
established a shooting range in the area which was located outside the fortified city, next to the main road leading in and out of the Western City Gate. In 1782 the society acquired a 3.5 hectare piece of land, stretching from present day Vesterbrogade
to the beach just south of the city. The society also built a mansion, completed in 1787, which was to serve as a venue for its active social life.
When Vesterbro started to develop in the second half of the 19th century, after the city had been allowed to develop beyond its now decommissioned fortifications, the City expropriated much of the Shooting Society's grounds. In 1887 a tall wall was constructed to shield newly established Istedgade
from stray bullets from the shooting range. The wall was designed by the architect Ludvig Knudsen
in a Neo-Gothic
style. Knudsen also modernized the interior of the Shooting Society's mansion in the 1890s and added a small new wing towards the gardens.
In 1949 the Society moved to Sølyst Manor at Klampenborg
north of Copenhagen, while the City acquired the rest of the property on Vesterbrogade.
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...
, Denmark
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...
. Its name refers to the former shooting range of the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society
Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society
The Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society was founded some time before 1443 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally it served to train citizens to contribute to the defence of the city but by the 18th century its activities were of a purely ceremonial and social nature...
which used to be located on the site. The most destinctive feature of the park is the Neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
Shooting Range Wall which was constructed in 1887 to shield traffic on Istedgade
Istedgade
Istedgade is a street located in the district of Vesterbro in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.Located west of Copenhagen Central Station, Istedgade is a 1-kilometer straight street starting in the cheap hotel district, moving through the porn and drugs area to modern Vesterbro, where 1900s tenement...
from stray bullets. The other end of the park is bounded by the rear of the former heatquarters of the Shooting Society, a Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
mansion which now houses the Museum of Copenhagen.
History
In the 1750s Royal Copenhagen Shooting SocietyRoyal Copenhagen Shooting Society
The Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society was founded some time before 1443 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Originally it served to train citizens to contribute to the defence of the city but by the 18th century its activities were of a purely ceremonial and social nature...
established a shooting range in the area which was located outside the fortified city, next to the main road leading in and out of the Western City Gate. In 1782 the society acquired a 3.5 hectare piece of land, stretching from present day Vesterbrogade
Vesterbrogade
Vesterbrogade is the main shopping street of the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends west for 1.5 km from the Rådhuspladsen along the municipal border with Frederiksberg to Pile Allé where it turns into Roskildevej...
to the beach just south of the city. The society also built a mansion, completed in 1787, which was to serve as a venue for its active social life.
When Vesterbro started to develop in the second half of the 19th century, after the city had been allowed to develop beyond its now decommissioned fortifications, the City expropriated much of the Shooting Society's grounds. In 1887 a tall wall was constructed to shield newly established Istedgade
Istedgade
Istedgade is a street located in the district of Vesterbro in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.Located west of Copenhagen Central Station, Istedgade is a 1-kilometer straight street starting in the cheap hotel district, moving through the porn and drugs area to modern Vesterbro, where 1900s tenement...
from stray bullets from the shooting range. The wall was designed by the architect Ludvig Knudsen
Ludvig Knudsen
Ludvig Harald Knudsen was a Historicist Danish architect. He mainly designed churches, including St. Stephen's Church in Copenhagen's Nørrebro district.-Biography:Ludvig Knudsen was born on 18 August 1843 in Copenhagen...
in a Neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style. Knudsen also modernized the interior of the Shooting Society's mansion in the 1890s and added a small new wing towards the gardens.
In 1949 the Society moved to Sølyst Manor at Klampenborg
Klampenborg
Klampenborg is a northern suburb to Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located in Gentofte Municipality, directly on Øresund, between Taarbæk and Skovshoved. Like other neighbourhoods along the Øresund coast, Klampenborg is an affluent area with many large houses....
north of Copenhagen, while the City acquired the rest of the property on Vesterbrogade.