Stærekassen
Encyclopedia
Stærekassen also known as Ny Scene (English: New Stage) is a theatre building annexed to the Royal Danish Theatre
on Kongens Nytorv
in Copenhagen
, Denmark
. It opened in 1931 to serve a dual purpose as an additional stage for the Royal Theatre and the first home of the new Danish Broadcasting Corporation. The coloquial name, which has now obtained official status, refers to the design of the stage tower in the shape of a box suspended above the street, and in the initial design proposals with a large round window high up as the dominating ornamental feature of the facade.
and one of his ambitions was to establish a radio symphony orchestre in Copenhagen. In 1928 the State Radio relocated to rented rooms in the Axelborg building on Vesterbrogade
, a former bank headquarters, but the need for more suitable facilities, with proper broadcasting studios and a concert hall, soon became evident.
In the same time, the Royal Danish Theatre
had been in of more space ever since the inauguration of its new building in 1874, and in particular a venue which was better suited for the more Naturalistic plays. The past half century had seen a number of proposals for expansions and various existing buildings, such as the Dagmar Theatre, the Court Theatre and even Masasin du Nord, had been brought into play as a possible additional venue for the theatre. Architects such as Christian Hansen
, Erik Bunch and Holger Jacobsen
had published detailed proposals long before any competition was launched.
In the end it was decided to combine the needs of the two national institutions and an architectural competition was held which was won by Holger Jacobsen.
As soon as the first renderings were published, the project was met with criticism and soon nicknamed the Nesting Box due to its unusual design solution which at first included a large, round window high up on the facade toward Kongens Nytorv.
The new building was inaugurated in 1931 but from the beginning failed to satisfy the demands of its two tenents. The theatre complained about the facilities for the audience and in the same time ceiling which separated the main auditorium from the combined radio studios and rehearsal rooms was inadequately sound isolated, making it impossible for the orcestre to practice under theatre performances. The Radio Orchestre therefore kept the premises in Axelborg for rehearsals and had to move all instriments back and forth for the weekly public concert in the Nesting Box's main auditorium, but after two seasons the Royal Theatre terminated the contract
As the Broadcasting Copporation grew up through the 30s, the need for more spacious and technically advanced premises arose once again and a new Radio Building was inaugurated in 1940 to the design of the Modernist architect Wilhelm Lauritzen although its concert hall was not completed until after World War II
. By that time the Royal Theatre had moved into the Nesting Box once again, using it as a venue for modern drama in accordance with the original plans.
The Royal Theatre left Stærekassen in 2008, when the new Rotal Danish Playhouse was inaugurated on the waterfront.
's old theatre building from 1874 with a new corner building which the auditorium is found. The interior is richly decorated in Art Déco
style by the leading Danish artists of the period.
and designed by Einar Utzon-Frank
. The reliefs on the front towards Kongens Nytorv depic Apollo
, God of musicians, flanked by the Muse of Tragedy
, on his right hand side, and the Muse of comedy on his left hand side. On the opposite side of the tower, Mozart
with violin, representing music, is seen flanked by Eros
on the swan representing dance, and Shakespeare
drama.
by Ejnar Nielsen
. It is composed composed of three million pieces og glass from mosaic factories in Venice
. The world of the arts is represented by figures of Hans Christian Andersen
, Carl Nielsen
and others, whilst the world of radio is represented by physicist such as Hans Christian Ørsted
and Niels Bohr
.
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
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...
in 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...
, 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...
. It opened in 1931 to serve a dual purpose as an additional stage for the Royal Theatre and the first home of the new Danish Broadcasting Corporation. The coloquial name, which has now obtained official status, refers to the design of the stage tower in the shape of a box suspended above the street, and in the initial design proposals with a large round window high up as the dominating ornamental feature of the facade.
History
When the Danish Broadcasting Corporation was founded in 1925, it was based in very small premises on Købmagergade. The first director of the new State Radio was the chamber singer Emil HolmEmil Holm
Emil Holm was a Finnish sport shooter who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was born in Larsmo....
and one of his ambitions was to establish a radio symphony orchestre in Copenhagen. In 1928 the State Radio relocated to rented rooms in the Axelborg building on 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...
, a former bank headquarters, but the need for more suitable facilities, with proper broadcasting studios and a concert hall, soon became evident.
In the same time, the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
had been in of more space ever since the inauguration of its new building in 1874, and in particular a venue which was better suited for the more Naturalistic plays. The past half century had seen a number of proposals for expansions and various existing buildings, such as the Dagmar Theatre, the Court Theatre and even Masasin du Nord, had been brought into play as a possible additional venue for the theatre. Architects such as Christian Hansen
Christian Hansen (architect)
Hans Christian Hansen was a Historicist Danish architect who worked 18 years in Greece where he was active in the transformation of Athens from a small town to the country's capital and an international metropolis...
, Erik Bunch and Holger Jacobsen
Holger Jacobsen
Holger Jacobsen was a Danish architect. His best known work is Stærekassen, an extension to the Royal Danish Theatre on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen.-Biography:Holger Jacobsen was born on 30 October 1876 in Odense...
had published detailed proposals long before any competition was launched.
In the end it was decided to combine the needs of the two national institutions and an architectural competition was held which was won by Holger Jacobsen.
As soon as the first renderings were published, the project was met with criticism and soon nicknamed the Nesting Box due to its unusual design solution which at first included a large, round window high up on the facade toward Kongens Nytorv.
The new building was inaugurated in 1931 but from the beginning failed to satisfy the demands of its two tenents. The theatre complained about the facilities for the audience and in the same time ceiling which separated the main auditorium from the combined radio studios and rehearsal rooms was inadequately sound isolated, making it impossible for the orcestre to practice under theatre performances. The Radio Orchestre therefore kept the premises in Axelborg for rehearsals and had to move all instriments back and forth for the weekly public concert in the Nesting Box's main auditorium, but after two seasons the Royal Theatre terminated the contract
As the Broadcasting Copporation grew up through the 30s, the need for more spacious and technically advanced premises arose once again and a new Radio Building was inaugurated in 1940 to the design of the Modernist architect Wilhelm Lauritzen although its concert hall was not completed until after 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...
. By that time the Royal Theatre had moved into the Nesting Box once again, using it as a venue for modern drama in accordance with the original plans.
The Royal Theatre left Stærekassen in 2008, when the new Rotal Danish Playhouse was inaugurated on the waterfront.
Architecture and artwork
The building consists of a high stage tower which spans Tordenskjoldsgade and connects Vilhelm DahlerupVilhelm Dahlerup
Jens Vilhelm Dahlerup was a Danish architect who specialized in the Historicist style. One of the most productive and noted Danish architects of the 19th century, he is behind many of the most known buildings and landmarks of his time and has more than any other single architect contributed to the...
's old theatre building from 1874 with a new corner building which the auditorium is found. The interior is richly decorated in Art Déco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style by the leading Danish artists of the period.
Facade reliefs
The facade reliefs on both sides of the stage tower are executed in BronzeBronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
and designed by Einar Utzon-Frank
Einar Utzon-Frank
Aksel Einar Utzon-Frank was a Danish sculptor and professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. During his lifetime, he produced a large number of sculptures, many of which stand as public monuments...
. The reliefs on the front towards Kongens Nytorv depic Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
, God of musicians, flanked by the Muse of Tragedy
Melpomene
Melpomene , initially the Muse of Singing, she then became the Muse of Tragedy, for which she is best known now. Her name was derived from the Greek verb melpô or melpomai meaning "to celebrate with dance and song." She is often represented with a tragic mask and wearing the cothurnus, boots...
, on his right hand side, and the Muse of comedy on his left hand side. On the opposite side of the tower, Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
with violin, representing music, is seen flanked by Eros
Eros
Eros , in Greek mythology, was the Greek god of love. His Roman counterpart was Cupid . Some myths make him a primordial god, while in other myths, he is the son of Aphrodite....
on the swan representing dance, and Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
drama.
Passageway mosaick
In the arched passage under the stage tower is decorated with a large mosaicMosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
by Ejnar Nielsen
Ejnar Nielsen
Ejnar Nielsen was a Danish painter and illustrator, who was a central proponant of Symbolist painting in Danish art. He is also known for his large mosaic on Stærekassen, an extension to the Royal Danish Theatre on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen...
. It is composed composed of three million pieces og glass from mosaic factories in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The world of the arts is represented by figures of Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, Carl Nielsen
Carl Nielsen
Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...
and others, whilst the world of radio is represented by physicist such as Hans Christian Ørsted
Hans Christian Ørsted
Hans Christian Ørsted was a Danish physicist and chemist who discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields, an important aspect of electromagnetism...
and Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr
Niels Henrik David Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. Bohr mentored and collaborated with many of the top physicists of the century at his institute in...
.
Stærekassen today
After the Roydal Danish Theatre abandoned the building in 2008, it was handed over to the Palaces and Properties Agency which now rents it out for cultural event, or to companies, organisers, public institutions and other interested parties. The auditorium is best suited for theatre performances, concerts and small conferences. The foyer has service functions and toilet facilities and is mainly used for receptions.External links
- Stærekassen, illustrated booklet (in Danish)