Larsens Plads
Larsens Plads(Larsen's Place) is a waterfront inCopenhagen,Denmark,which runs along theZealandside of theInner Harbourfrom theNyhavncanal in the south to theNordre Toldbodarea just south ofLangelinieto the north. The name refers to a shipyard which used to occupy the grounds but is now more associated withemigration to Americaafter it became a major hub for trans-Atlantic traffic later in the century. It is dominated byAmalienborg Palacewith theAmalie Gardenand a number of late 18th-century warehouses which have been converted to other uses. The buildings facing the waterfront have their address on the parallel streetToldbodgade.
History
[edit]Warehouses and ship building
[edit]
The waterfront was created by extensive land fills which led to the establishment ofNy Toldbodgadein 1719 and expanded the port northwards. The new quay was used for storage of timber that arrived to the city by ship.
WhenFrederiksstadenwas founded and the area along the waterfront came under redevelopment as an elegant new residential district, it was decided to relocate the timberyards from the area due to the risk of fires. They found a temporary home at Greenland, a greenspace next toNyboder,and were later moved to a filled site south ofLange Bridge,at present dayTietgensgade.[1]However, in spite of the wealthy new neighbours, the waterfront remained in use for port activities,
In 1802, the site was acquired by a wealthy shipowner,Lars Larsen,who established a shipyard in the grounds which became known simply as Larsen's Place after its founder.[2]
In 1844, when Larsen died, Larsens Plads was acquired byJacob Holm,the owner of the largest shipping company in Denmark at the time as well as a shipyard onChristianshavn.He used Larsens Plads for repairing ships.[3]
Trans-Atlantic hub
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In 1870, the shipyard was closed and a new port terminal was established at the site in 1879 by theThingvalla Linewhich began operating a direct route betweenScandinavianports and America, offering the growing number of Scandinavian emigrants affordable, comfortable and safe voyages. In 1898, the Thingvalla Line was acquired byDFDS,another Danish-based shipping company, and the Scandinavian-American passenger service was operated under the nameScandinavian America Line.[2]
Later history
[edit]The route to America with Scandinavian America Line was discontinued in 1935. The quay area was later taken over by Oslo Ferries, which started in 1866 and have since relocated to the Free Port Terminal atAmerika Quayfurther north.
Buildings
[edit]
- West Indies Warehouse(1780–81)
- Blue Warehouse(1781–83)
- Yellow Warehouse(1777–78)
- Double Warehouse(granaries) (1785–87).
Public art
[edit]An untitled sculpture bySøren Georg Jensenwas installed at the quay in 1979. Outside the West India Warehouse is a replica ofMichelangelo'sDavid.[4]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^"1755"(in Danish). Selskabet for Københavns Historie.Retrieved2012-01-02.
- ^ab"Amalie Garden - Amaliehaven".Copenhagen Portal. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-09-23.Retrieved2010-07-11.
- ^"Jacob Holm"(in Danish). Dansk Biogradisk Leksikon.Retrieved2012-10-30.
- ^"David".Copenhagen Municipality.Retrieved2014-11-06.
External links
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