Style and architecture - Hovedpostkontoret — the General Post Office
Dronningens gate 15
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Photo: Mahlum / Wikipedia
A part of the tour Style and architecture
Hovedpostkontoret is one of Kvadraturen’s landmark buildings. It is a monumental building, erected for a specific purpose.
The general post office building is a good example of the Norwegian new-baroque style of the early 1900s. Architect Rudolf Emanuel Jacobsen won the architectural competition in 1913 and the building was finished in 1924. Photographed by the famed Norwegian photograph Anders B. Wilse.
Photo: Anders Beer Wilse / Oslo Museum
Typical features of the Nordic new- baroque is the rustique surfaces, compact shapes and volumes, and a symmetrical order in the facades or a punctuation of the corners as seen here in the former post office building. The architects of the era were inspired by the national renaissance and baroque style of the 1600-1700s, more so than of the contemporary European new-baroque styles.
Photo: Unknown / Byantikvaren
Another typical feature of the Norwegian New-Baroque style is the atriums. Today the atrium is open to the public and the building holds functions such as a hotel, apartments, shops and cafes. Go into the atrium and have a look at the grandeur!
Photo: Unknown
Pre-post office
Photo: Digitalt museum / lokalhistoriewiki
The old cathedral school where the parliament`s administration held house from 1814-1854.
Photo: Elisabeth Magnus / Byarkivet
General Counsils building at Norsk Folkemuseum
The building complex of Dronningens gate 15 consumes more than half a block and many buildings. Today we would have preserved them, but they were moved or torn down to make room for the post office. Amongst them are the general Counsils building and the old cathedral school where the parliament had their meetings the first decades after the split from Denmark in 1814. You can still see the Parliament hall and parts of the Counsil building at Norsk Folkemuseum on Bygdøy.
Photo: Anne Lise Reinsfelt / Norsk Folkemeuseum
Parliament hall at Norsk Folkemuseum
Photo: Anders Beer Wilse/ Oslo museum
Model of Posthuset.
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