Christian Frederik Hansen - Return To Copenhagen

Return To Copenhagen

He returned to Copenhagen in 1804, where he lived until his death. He had a large, social household in a fabulously appointed apartment in Copenhagen. In 1808 he was named Professor of Architecture, Chief Building Director, and given the position of State Advisor (etatsråd). He held the title of Chief Building Director until his retirement.

Hansen was responsible for the building of the City Hall and Courthouse on Nytorv (1805–1815), and the rebuilding of Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke) along with the surrounding square (1811–1829), after the church was burned down during the bombing of the second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807.

He overtook Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard's leading position at the Academy, and was chosen eight times as Director of the Academy, 1811–1818, 1821–1827, and 1830-1833.

He was responsible for the Town Hall and Court Building at the site of the old Waisenhus, which was completed in 1815. That same year Metropolitan School was completed on Frue Plads.

The other major work he did was the rebuilding of Christiansborg Palace, which had burned down during the fire of 1794. The chapel was completed in 1826, and the rest of the building was completed in 1828.

In 1823 his church in Hørsholm, on the site of the former Hirschholm Palace, was dedicated. In 1826 he was named ‘’Konferensråd’’. In 1830 he established a medallion to be given to young architects. He became titled with the Order of the Dannebrog in 1840.

His marble bust of sculptor Hermann Ernst Freund is in the Academy’s Assembly Hall, as is his portrait of artist Conrad Christian August Bøhndel.

He died at his home in Frederiksberg at the age of nearly 90, and is buried in the Church of Holmen in Copenhagen.