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Utzon's House in Hellebæk

Utzon's House in Hellebæk is a one-storey private home in Hellebæk, not far from Helsingør, in Denmark's northern Zealand. Built by the world-famous architect Jørn Utzon for his family and himself in 1952, its innovative design was welcomed by the world of architecture.

Jorn Utzon's house, Hellebæk

History edit

Apart from a watertower in Svaneke on Bornholm, this was Utzon's first completed work although he had already won many competitions. During the Second World War, Utzon went to Stockholm to study the work of Gunnar Asplund. In the winter of 1943–44, there was an exhibition of modern American architecture where Utzon was particularly taken by Frank Lloyd Wright's houses which led him to study Wright's work in more detail. Wright's concern with nature and the characteristics of each building site as well as the need for attention to internal and external space convinced him that each project required its own special approach.[1]

After his family moved to Helsingør in 1937, Utzon — who was then 18 — became ever more attached to the area. The house remained his base for the rest of his life. "It's my laboratory," he once commented. It was in his Hellebæk study that he began working on the design of the Sydney Opera House in 1959.[2]

When Utzon started building the house on the edge of Hellebæk Forest just outside the small town of Hellebæk, it was rumoured that an innovative approach to one-family homes was in the making. Architects of considerable repute visited the site to monitor progress. Utzon himself directed the building work without any technical plans. As the building developed, he would often change its shape, rather like building a sand castle. He had learnt this approach in Finland in 1946 when he had spent a few months with Alvar Aalto who had used exactly the same method for his Villa Mairea. Aalto maintained it was the most economical solution for his client.[1]

Architecture edit

A long, narrow, one story building with a flat-roof, it rises slightly above the gently sloping site on a brick platform. The southern facade consists solely of windows, allowing lots of light into the open-plan living room with a freestanding fireplace. The bedrooms have no windows apart from skylights.[3]

After experimenting with a few models, Utzon tells us he first built a full-size wooden version of the house in order to gain an impression of how a house with 130 square metres of living space would look in practice. Careful consideration was given to the surroundings: sun, view and shelter from the wind. The result was that he decided to have a completely closed wall along the northern side and an open glass wall for the southern facade. The builders agreed to work under Utzon's direction without plans. The north wall was first completed so as to establish the basic geometry. The kitchen and bathroom were then added and the remaining rooms were arranged with movable pinewood partitions and doors in order to facilitate any subsequent alterations. The materials used inside and outside are the same: yellow-white bricks, Oregon pine and aluminium. Yellow tiling is used both at the top of the walls — with hard-baked tiles — and in the kitchen, grill niche and shower as well as for the fireplace. The absence of windows in the children's rooms along the north wall has been mentioned as a possible disadvantage but they were lit by skylights.[4]

Utzon's summed up his ideas about the house when he commented: "What is important for me is that the architectonic approach or system behind a house should not limit the house's function and thereby hamper life inside."[4]

Later developments edit

Not long before he died, Jørn Utzon had entrusted his son Jan with modernization work on the house and alterations to cater to his old age. The work was still in progress at the time of his death. In accordance with his own wishes, Utzon was buried in Hellebæk churchyard where his father and brother also rest.[5]

Influence edit

Utzon's design was widely imitated in the 1950s, first for one-family homes and later on a larger scale, when the Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk was built by Vilhelm Wohlert and Jørgen Bo in 1958. Halidor Gunnløgsson and Erik Christian Sørensen were among those who emulated Utzon's approach, developing a new Danish trend.[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Tobias Faber, "130 kvm" in Utzons egne huse, Copenhagen, Arkitektens Forlag, 2004, pp. 28–30. da icon
  2. ^ Christian Krabbe Barfoed, "Utzon begraves i Hellebæk", BT.dk, 2 December 2008. (in Danish) Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Brick Bulletin Spring 09". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b Jørn Utzon in Utzons egne huse, Arkitektens Forlag, Copenhagen 2004, pp. 38–39, first published in Arkitekten Månedshæfte No. 1, January 1953.
  5. ^ "Utzon begraves i Hellebæk lørdag: Jørn Utzon får sit sidste hvilested i familie-gravstedet på Hellebæk Kirkegård", Folketidende.dk, 2 December 2008. (in Danish) Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  6. ^ Kim Dirckinck-Holmfeld and Martin Keiding in Utzons egne huse, Arkitektens Forlag, Copenhagen 2004, p. 10.

Literature edit

  • Martin Keiding and Kim Dirckinck-Holmfeld (ed.), Utzon's own houses, Utzon Library, Copenhagen, Danish Architectural Press, 2004, 106 pages. ISBN 87-7407-316-8
  • Christoffer Harlang and Finn Monies, Eget hus: om danske arkitekters egne hus i 1950'erne, Copenhagen, Arkitektens Forlag, 2003, 118 pages. ISBN 87-7407-268-4 (in Danish)

56°03′43″N 12°33′38″E / 56.06194°N 12.56056°E / 56.06194; 12.56056

utzon, house, hellebæk, storey, private, home, hellebæk, from, helsingør, denmark, northern, zealand, built, world, famous, architect, jørn, utzon, family, himself, 1952, innovative, design, welcomed, world, architecture, jorn, utzon, house, hellebæk, contents. Utzon s House in Hellebaek is a one storey private home in Hellebaek not far from Helsingor in Denmark s northern Zealand Built by the world famous architect Jorn Utzon for his family and himself in 1952 its innovative design was welcomed by the world of architecture Jorn Utzon s house Hellebaek Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Later developments 4 Influence 5 See also 6 References 7 LiteratureHistory editApart from a watertower in Svaneke on Bornholm this was Utzon s first completed work although he had already won many competitions During the Second World War Utzon went to Stockholm to study the work of Gunnar Asplund In the winter of 1943 44 there was an exhibition of modern American architecture where Utzon was particularly taken by Frank Lloyd Wright s houses which led him to study Wright s work in more detail Wright s concern with nature and the characteristics of each building site as well as the need for attention to internal and external space convinced him that each project required its own special approach 1 After his family moved to Helsingor in 1937 Utzon who was then 18 became ever more attached to the area The house remained his base for the rest of his life It s my laboratory he once commented It was in his Hellebaek study that he began working on the design of the Sydney Opera House in 1959 2 When Utzon started building the house on the edge of Hellebaek Forest just outside the small town of Hellebaek it was rumoured that an innovative approach to one family homes was in the making Architects of considerable repute visited the site to monitor progress Utzon himself directed the building work without any technical plans As the building developed he would often change its shape rather like building a sand castle He had learnt this approach in Finland in 1946 when he had spent a few months with Alvar Aalto who had used exactly the same method for his Villa Mairea Aalto maintained it was the most economical solution for his client 1 Architecture editA long narrow one story building with a flat roof it rises slightly above the gently sloping site on a brick platform The southern facade consists solely of windows allowing lots of light into the open plan living room with a freestanding fireplace The bedrooms have no windows apart from skylights 3 After experimenting with a few models Utzon tells us he first built a full size wooden version of the house in order to gain an impression of how a house with 130 square metres of living space would look in practice Careful consideration was given to the surroundings sun view and shelter from the wind The result was that he decided to have a completely closed wall along the northern side and an open glass wall for the southern facade The builders agreed to work under Utzon s direction without plans The north wall was first completed so as to establish the basic geometry The kitchen and bathroom were then added and the remaining rooms were arranged with movable pinewood partitions and doors in order to facilitate any subsequent alterations The materials used inside and outside are the same yellow white bricks Oregon pine and aluminium Yellow tiling is used both at the top of the walls with hard baked tiles and in the kitchen grill niche and shower as well as for the fireplace The absence of windows in the children s rooms along the north wall has been mentioned as a possible disadvantage but they were lit by skylights 4 Utzon s summed up his ideas about the house when he commented What is important for me is that the architectonic approach or system behind a house should not limit the house s function and thereby hamper life inside 4 Later developments editNot long before he died Jorn Utzon had entrusted his son Jan with modernization work on the house and alterations to cater to his old age The work was still in progress at the time of his death In accordance with his own wishes Utzon was buried in Hellebaek churchyard where his father and brother also rest 5 Influence editUtzon s design was widely imitated in the 1950s first for one family homes and later on a larger scale when the Louisiana Museum in Humlebaek was built by Vilhelm Wohlert and Jorgen Bo in 1958 Halidor Gunnlogsson and Erik Christian Sorensen were among those who emulated Utzon s approach developing a new Danish trend 6 See also editUtzon s houses on Mallorca Can Lis and Can Feliz Architecture of DenmarkReferences edit a b Tobias Faber 130 kvm in Utzons egne huse Copenhagen Arkitektens Forlag 2004 pp 28 30 da icon Christian Krabbe Barfoed Utzon begraves i Hellebaek BT dk 2 December 2008 in Danish Retrieved 24 September 2011 Brick Bulletin Spring 09 Retrieved 24 September 2011 a b Jorn Utzon in Utzons egne huse Arkitektens Forlag Copenhagen 2004 pp 38 39 first published in Arkitekten Manedshaefte No 1 January 1953 Utzon begraves i Hellebaek lordag Jorn Utzon far sit sidste hvilested i familie gravstedet pa Hellebaek Kirkegard Folketidende dk 2 December 2008 in Danish Retrieved 24 September 2011 Kim Dirckinck Holmfeld and Martin Keiding in Utzons egne huse Arkitektens Forlag Copenhagen 2004 p 10 Literature editMartin Keiding and Kim Dirckinck Holmfeld ed Utzon s own houses Utzon Library Copenhagen Danish Architectural Press 2004 106 pages ISBN 87 7407 316 8 Christoffer Harlang and Finn Monies Eget hus om danske arkitekters egne hus i 1950 erne Copenhagen Arkitektens Forlag 2003 118 pages ISBN 87 7407 268 4 in Danish 56 03 43 N 12 33 38 E 56 06194 N 12 56056 E 56 06194 12 56056 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Utzon 27s House in Hellebaek amp oldid 1188610794, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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