Architecture and interior design thread

Detailed description (maximum 1000 words)

Dehn’s Palace was constructed in 1752-1756 as residence for Privy Councilor Friedrich Ludwig von Dehn.
The building was built by Architect Johann Gottfried Rosenberg (late 1709 – June 4 1776) under supervision by Nicolai Eigtved (June 1701 – June 7 1754).

Eigtved was the mastermind behind the grand rococo district of Copenhagen: Frederiksstad, including the Royal Palaces of Amalienborg. He is also accredited as the leading proponent of the introduction of rococo style in Danish architecture.

Dehn’s Palace together with its twin, Bernstorff’s Palace, was built as significant parts of this historic area. They are amongst the prime examples of the rococo style and situated on both sides of the magnificent and imposing axis that runs through the Royal Palaces and the Marble Church and forms the spine of the grand rococo layout.

An import application for the King from the time is preserved and show us some of the materials used.
Among others: 1.800.000 bricks, 50.000 glazed roof tiles, 150 barrels of French plaster, 50 baskets of French glass, 15 chests of Pomeranian glass, 700 Pomeranian timber beams, 300 Kalmar planks, 30.000 cubical feet of Gotlandic sandstone, 3.000 Swedish tiles, 4.000 pcs 6 inch nails, 20.000 pcs 5 inch nails and 100.000 pcs 4 inch nails.

The palace is 43 metres long and stands 4 storeys tall. It is composed of 3 avant-corps with mansard roof while the connecting volume bears a pitched roof. Especially the pavilion-like avant-corps are heavily decorated and the main pavilion is crested with vases, rocailles and a cartouche with the original owner’s coat of arms. The heavy influence from rococo and Eigtveds works is clearly visible, not least in the composition and rich decoration. However the plan and layout resembles closer the previous baroque style and shows that this is an individual work by Rosenberg himself under supervision rather than Eigtveds work. The façade is adorned with pilasters, lesenes, friezes and cornices and is covered in beige rendering. The ornaments are mostly cut from grey sand stone.
The original main entrance was in the north pavilion and lead to a magnificent marble staircase with pompous baroque stucco and sculptures.

Dehn only lived shortly in his new home. In 1762 he retired and moved home to his manor and 4 years later he managed to sell the palace. The short lived ownership proved to be foretelling and the palace have had a lot of changing owners through the years. Most notably was parts of the Danish royal family and most interestingly was a wealthy plantation owner from the Danish West Indies as well as a piano factory.

Christopher MacEvoy (ca. 1760 – July 26 1838) came from St. Croix of the Danish West Indies. He was of Scottish descent, but his father was granted Danish citizenship in for his work with the plantations. MacEvoy bought Dehn’s Palace in 1820 and launched a large modernization of the interiors. He assigned the notable architect Gustav Friedrich Hetsch (September 28 1788 – September 7 1864) to the task. MacEvoy was very wealthy, especially compared to the times of economic despair that Copenhagen went through after the Napoleonic Wars.
The assignment was carried out to showcase the wealth and was held in the most fashionable style at the time.Very expensive materials were used all over on the beletage; gold leaf on the elaborate stucco, doors of Cuban mahogany and so on. Evoy was renowned for his lavishness and this project only gave food to his reputation.

In1872 the palace was sold to the piano factory Hornung & Møller who completed a row of conversions to adapt the house for manufacturing. The beletage was largely left intact though to function as concert hall and Conservatory of Music.

By 1976 Dehn’s Palace was badly worn down through use and neglect of maintenance so the State was forced to take responsibility for the building as it had meanwhile been listed. In 1980 Danish Pharmacists Association bought it under the clause that a full restauration of the historical building was to be undertaken.
Professor Vilhelm Wohlert (May 27 1920 – May 10 2007), known for the modernist museum of Louisiana north of Copenhagen, was the advisory architect of the State regarding the Royal Castles and carried out a thorough restoration between 1984 and 1986. Several partitions and interposed floors from earlier conversions including those made by Hornung & Møller were removed and original colours and details were recreated based on Hetch’s drawings.

In May 2010 part of the ventilation installation in the top storey caught fire The entire roof construction was damaged and when the fire fighters put out the fire the 260 years old timber soaked up so much water that their weight exceeded their capacity and the remains collapsed. The collapse took down several floors in the central pavilion were only the walls remained. The interiors stood drenched in water for several days and were heavily damaged.

Both in their own right; as beautiful palaces and as parts of the entire grandiose rococo district, the twin palaces hold extremely high cultural value.
It is unique to find a building with such a documented history and with traces of the different times and styles visible thanks to a very well thought out strategy for the conservation and restoration works.
The two parts of Dehn’s Palace was listed in 1931 and 1951 by Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen