Kultorvet

Kultorvet

Kultorvet (literally "The Coal Market") is a public square in the Old Town of Copenhagen, Denmark. Together with Købmagergade and the southern part of Frederiksborggade, it forms a pedestrian zone between Nørreport station and Amagertorv on Strøget.

History

Kultorvet seen on an engraving from 1736

Kultorvet was created after the Copenhagen Fire of 1728 which destroyed a large part of the city. It was initially known as Ny Nørre Torv oven for Rundetårn ("New North Market above the Round Tower").

Collier at Kultorvet, c. 1805

The current, more easy-on-the-tongue name gradually took over, referring to the market trade which dominated the site. Prior to the fire, trade in charcoal, fire wood and peat had taken place just inside the Northern City Gate, a practical location since it was controlled by colliers, peat gatherers and farmers from the forest-clad north of Zealand.[1]

The original market square was considerably smaller but its area has gradually been increased in connection with demolitions and construction of new buildings. A new building for Copenhagen Central Library was built on the east side of the square in 1957.

Kultorvet was pedestrianised and cleared of parking places in 1973 following the successful pedestrianisation of Strøget in the early 1960s.[2]

The square was refurbished between 2011 and 2013 together with the rest of the pedestrian zone and Hauser Plads on the other side of the Library House. The new square was designed by Polyform.[3]

The square

Kultorvet, looking towards Frederiksborggade
Old kiosk

The 2013 renovation installed a large, circular water feature which doubles as a band stand for special events.

One of Copenhagen's old telephone kiosks is found on the square. It was installed and operated by A/S Kjøbenhavns Telefonkiosker.

On the square is Hanne Varming's bronze statue The Elder Mother (Hyldemor), presenting an elderly couple seated on a bench in quiet contemplation. The statue takes its name after Hans Christian Andersen's tale of the same name from 1851 but was also inspired by a memory of the artist's own great grand parents.[4]

Architecture

Buildings on south side of square.

Built in the 1730, No. 14 on the corner with Sankt Gertruds Stræde is the only building of the square that survives from its creation in the years after the Fire of 1728.[5][6] No. 5, 7, 9–11 and 15 (designed by Christian Frederik Hansen) all date from the 1810s.

The building on the corner of Kultorvet and Købmagergade (right) and the Messen Building

The Historicist building on the corner of Frederiksborggade was designed by Valdemar Ingemann and is from 1895. It was originally topped by a tall spire but it was dismantled after a few years[7] The building on the corner of Købmagergade, also in the Historiccist style, is from 1908.

References

  1. ↑ "Kultorvet" (in Danish). Selskabet for Københavns Historie. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  2. ↑ Gehl, Jan; Gemzøe, Lars (1996). Public Spaces, Public Life, Copenhagen. The Danish Architectural Press and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. p. 19. ISBN 877 407 305 2.
  3. ↑ "Købmagergade får 2 millioner granitsten og en legeplads" (in Danish). Politiken. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  4. ↑ "Hyldemor og hendes mand har sat sig ned igen" (in Danish). Københavns Kommune. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  5. ↑ "Kultorvets vestlige side" (in Danish). Københavns Museum. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  6. ↑ "Kultorvet 14/Sankt Gertruds Stræde 1-1a" (in Danish). indenforvoldene.dk. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
  7. ↑ "Kultorvet 17/Frederiksborggade 1-1a-c" (in Danish). indenforvoldene.dk. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
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Coordinates: 55°40′57″N 12°34′27″E / 55.6825°N 12.5741°E / 55.6825; 12.5741

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