Svaneapoteket in Ålesund

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Exterior view of the former Svaneapoteke, today Art Nouveau center
Dining room of the pharmacist Øwre, 1907
Pharmacy sales room

The former Svaneapotek (swan pharmacy ) is located in Ålesund in Fylke Møre og Romsdal in Norway . It was built after the great fire of Ålesund in 1904 and is one of the most important examples of Art Nouveau in Norway. It is said to have opened in 1908.

Builder and architect

The pharmacist Øwre was a member of the municipal council and chairman of the city as well as mayor in 1909 and 1910. He commissioned the construction of the pharmacy . He chose Hagbarth Martin Schytte-Berg (1860–1944) as the architect . Works known by him up to then include the Skien kirke (1887–1894) and the Fagerborg kirke in Oslo (1901–1903). He was asked to take over the construction management. This included, among other things, the planning and execution of the design, the choice of material, interior design and stylistic detailed solutions for the interior and exterior. In addition, he was responsible for hiring construction workers and performing practical construction work. He became one of the leading architects involved in the rebuilding of Ålesund.

Building

The building is located in a central square in the city and should fulfill the two functions of working and living. The building is made of finely and roughly hewn granite and has a tower, a gable and a bay window. The iconography of the building are inspired by Romanesque architecture and also by the stave churches . Ornaments in the Urnes style and the owl motif were used.

The interior of the pharmacy is kept in the same style as the exterior design. Wall cabinets are installed over the entire wall surface in order to make optimal use of the space. The wall cupboards are just high enough that you can easily get to the top compartments without having to use any tools. The interior is bright and comfortably furnished. Here, as in the exterior, the owl motif and the stave church ornaments can be found again. This use of old Norwegian architectural elements creates a psychological perception that creates a national, indigenous atmosphere of security. The entire interior including the decoration was designed by the architect Schytte-Berg. According to Tvinnereim, the demands of contemporary architecture must meet the requirements for function and comfort, which Tvinnreim believes has been achieved in Svaneapotek.

In 1985 the building was listed as a historical monument . This applies in particular to the pharmacy interior and parts of the pharmacist's apartment.

Remodeling and restoration

In 1985 Bjørn Lamborg took over the pharmacy. The Riksantikvaren placed the pharmacy under monument protection and did not want to approve any exception to the monument protection regulations. At this point in time there was also a strong, local effort to keep pharmacies in their original locations. Even the Svaneapoteke building was restored, but this did not include the pharmacy. In 1960 the pharmacy was partially rebuilt, but so worn out it no longer met the requirements for a pharmacy. In the sales room, which was placed under protection, some of the small drawers were replaced with new ones. The flat drawers in the rear wall were expanded and a refrigerator was integrated into the cabinet system and clad to match.

Now there was a strong will to continue this pharmacy business. But the introduction of the freedom of establishment and new demands on effectiveness made it impossible to resume operations there, and so the pharmacy moved to the shopping center. After the pharmacy had moved out of the building, the Art Nouveau Center took over the premises in 2003. In connection with the opening of the center, the interior was restored and the original colors of the ceilings and walls were restored.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Tvinnereim 1981, p. 90.

literature

  • Norges Apotek and their owners. Volume 1, Norges Apotekerforening, Oslo 1953, OCLC 792013015 , pp. 1-7. (Norwegian)
  • Paul Reinertsen : Ombyggingen av Svaneapoteket. In: Ålesund i Norges Apotekerforeningstidskrift. No. 9, 1988, pp. 214-221. (Norwegian)
  • Helga Stave Tvinnereim: Arkitektur i Ålesund 1904-1907, Oppattbygginga av byen etter brannen 23 January 1904. Aalesund Museum Skrift no. 13. 1981, pp. 66-110. (Norwegian)

Web links

Commons : Svaneapoteket i Ålesund  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 62 ° 28 '15.9 "  N , 6 ° 9' 2.8"  E