Egill Reimers

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Egill Reimer's
medal table

sailing

NorwayNorway Norway
Olympic rings Olympic games
gold Antwerp 1920 12 meter class (type 1919)

Egill Reimers (born July 18, 1878 in Bergen ; † November 11, 1946 there ) was a Norwegian architect and sailor. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Bergen School , a Norwegian architectural trend of the early 20th century.

life and work

Early years

Reimers was born as the son of master baker Bastian Reimers and his wife Maren Jahn in Bergen in western Norway. His older brother, Otto Georg Jahn Reimers (1867–1963), was a politician of the Senterpartiet and from 1922 to 1933 a member of the Stortinges . Reimers attended the technical school in Bergen, which he graduated in 1898. Then, like many of his contemporaries, he went to Germany and studied at the Technical University in Munich , among others with Friedrich von Thiersch , Carl Hocheder and Heinrich von Schmidt . After completing his studies, Reimers returned to Bergen in 1902, where he initially worked for the municipal building authorities for two years before setting up on his own in 1904.

plant

Haakon Shetelig's Villa Øvre Kalfarlien 42
Institute for Geophysics

At first Reimers designed primarily villas and apartment buildings for the Bergen upper class. Its buildings reflected the tastes of the time - neoclassicism and art nouveau , with elements of the Arts and Crafts movement and traditional Norwegian architecture. His first major project was gyms , the gym of the Bergen gymnastics association, after winning a tender. Other public monumental buildings followed, which are often characterized by references to their function. The main building of the Museum of Cultural History in Bergen with its high walls, vaults and massive tower is reminiscent of medieval architecture. The Institute for Geophysics is provided with symbols for various sciences, but otherwise keeps a sober, scientific form.

In 1918 he won the tender to build the new Bergen State Archives with a proposal that was inspired by 17th century Bergen architecture and medieval monastery architecture.

Bergen Tinghus

Reimer's main work is the Bergener Tinghus (courthouse), whose tender he won in 1928 under the motto Respect for the Law (Respect for Loven). The facade of the neoclassical building is dominated by a monumental entrance area with three pointed arches guarded by four statues, which symbolize the four cardinal virtues . Inside there is a covered courtyard reminiscent of Italian Renaissance palaces.

In the 1930s, Reimers also turned to more radical architectural styles. His design for the conversion of the Smith Sivertsen bakery from 1930 is considered to be the first building in Bergen in the functionalist style.

Restorations

In addition to drawings of his own buildings, Reimers also undertook restorations, primarily of medieval buildings. The most important buildings restored by Reimers include the tower of the monastery church in Selje and the restoration of the ruins of the Lyse monastery . He campaigned for the preservation of historical buildings in Bergen and was instrumental in their inventory. He was also a board member in the Bergen department of Fortidsminneforeningen .

Participation in the Olympic Games

At the Olympic Summer Games in Antwerp in 1920 Reimers took part as a team member of the Heira II in sailing in the 12 meter class of 1919 and won the gold medal. However, the Heira II was also the only participating boat and so two successfully completed runs were sufficient. In addition to Reimers, the crew also included his architect colleague Kaspar Hassel , Christen Wiese , Martin Borthen , Arthur Allers and the brothers Thor , Olaf and Erik Ørvig . Skipper of Heira II was Johan Friele .

Awards

Bergen State Archives
  • 1924 - Houens Fund diploma for the State Archives in Bergen
  • 1958 (posthumously) - Honorary member of the Norwegian Association of Architects

Web links

Commons : Egill Reimers  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Egil Reimers , in: Norsk biografisk leksikon, accessed on May 12, 2020 (Norwegian)
  2. ↑ Otto Georg Jahn Reimers , Norsk senter for forskningsdata, accessed on May 13, 2020 (Norwegian)
  3. ↑ a b c d Egill Reimers , in: Norsk Kunstnerleksikon, accessed on May 12, 2020 (Norwegian)
  4. ↑ Vedtak om fredning av Statsarkivet i Bergen arkivverket.no, accessed on May 14, 2020 (Norwegian)
  5. ↑ Tinghuset , Bergen byarkiv, accessed on May 14, 2020 (Norwegian)
  6. ↑ Smiths Sivertsens bakeri , Grind.no, accessed on May 14, 2020 (Norwegian)
  7. ^ Bill Mallon, Anthony Th. Bijkerk: The 1920 Olympic Games. Results for All Competitors in All Events with Commentary , Jefferson, North Carolina, 2009, p. 330
  8. ↑ Houens Fonds Diplom Norske arkitekters landsforbund, accessed on May 12, 2020 (Norwegian)
personal data
SURNAME Reimers, Egill
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Norwegian architect and sailor
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1878
PLACE OF BIRTH Mountains
DATE OF DEATH November 11, 1946
Place of death Mountains