| Historicism
| | The hectic building activity of the 19th century became almost an exhibition of the architecture of earlier times. There are blatant copies, imitations and mixes of style. Thus Elsinore Station from 1891 is built in Renaissance style. The phenomenon is called: Historicism. |
Historicisme og nationalromantik
The predominant architectural direction in the 19th century is the so-called Historicism, where architecture and building restoration borrow style elements from different earlier periods in an attempt to find a modern idiom. In the second half of the 19th century a direction with affiliation to the Scandinavian and national romantic currents are developed. This style refers to the shared past, the Viking Age, but is also has a tight connection to the skønvirke style of the time.
The new building of Marienlyst Seaside Hotel from 1897 was, especially with the characteristic tower, which disappeared in the 1930´s, built in the characteristic building style of the time with extensive use of wood for house end constructions and eaves and ornamental traits from the Viking Age. The style is also known as “Skønvirke”(“Liberty” or “Modern Style”) and is connected with late-romanticism with a Scandinavian stamp. It is found in Aalgaarde Seaside Hotel, Dragør Seaside Hotel and the first real summer house building activities in Ålsgårde and Hornbæk from around the beginning of the century.
If you go to Falsterbo in Scania the style can be found and even in Ramlösa there are examples of the Viking Age style and late-romantic wooden constructions. Furthermore the style can be found in a number of official buildings. The old ferry station in Helsingborg is a good example and Østerport Railway Station and other stations along the coast is a pure exhibition of this style.
Marienlyst Seaside Hotel | 
Summer House in Hornbæk | 
Helsingborg´s Old Ferry Station | 
Villa Svea | 
Villa Dana |
Klampenborg Station | 
Ålsgårde Seaside Hotel | 
Viking Style Arild | 
Viking House | 
Log house |
Østerport Station | 
Roof and Spire |
Elsinore new Town Hall
Elsinore new Town Hall was finished in 1855. Previously it had been the object of a heated debate, which wasn´t or isn´t unusual, when major changes were on the agenda. The reason for the new building was that the old town hall from the 16th century was in need of a renovation of the jail. On the way they realized that a rebuildig like that required that the old town hall had to be demolished.
The debate was whether the new Town Hall should be built in Axeltorv.
Finally the new Town Hall was built where the old one had been, but they didn´t avoid the budget excesses, known from the the present time.
Had they known in 1854/55 that the Sound Duty would disappear just two years later, the town probably wouldn´t have had such an impressive building.
Elsinore Town Hall 1830 | 
Elsinore Town Hall 1855 | 
Elsinore Town Hall 2007 |
Oversæt
Oversæt | 
Oversæt |
Helsingør Toldkammer
The Custom House |
Restoration Craze
Around the middle of the 1900th century a restoration craze set in. A great del of the Scanian manors was transformed from solid renaissance buildings into polished new gothic and French Chateau style in innumerable variations. Romantic fanaticism and romance of chivalry became prevalent, but also ambitions to recreate the perfect roman or gothic building.
Seen through our eyes the results was extremely rough restorations, as for instance the cathedral in Lund and the estates Svaneholm and Vrams Gunnarstorp, or even direct cultural disasters, like when they tore down the old Roman church in Asmundtorp and erected a new Gothic chamber of horrors, or the architect’s dream of the perfect Roman church (The church in Torlöse).
Of course all of this happened with the best of intents and in many cases in close collaboration between Scanian building owners and Danish architects and as a manifestation of the common Nordic nationality and the realization of Scandinavism.
Marsvinsholm | 
Torrlösa Church |
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