Carl Jacobsen House
| Company type | Private residence (historic) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Residential architecture |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Founder | Carl Jacobsen |
| Headquarters | Copenhagen , Denmark |
The Carl Jacobsen House served as the personal residence of Carl Jacobsen and is recognized as a protected structure within the Carlsberg district of Copenhagen, Denmark.
History
In 1880, Carl Jacobsen purchased the Bakkegården estate next to his father's brewery, transforming it into his family domicile. After enduring the loss of four children to illness between 1887 and 1890, Jacobsen chose to demolish the existing building and engaged architect Hack Kampmann to create a new home, which was finalized in 1892.
Upon Carl Jacobsen's passing in 1914, his descendants continued to reside in the house until 1998. Subsequently, the property underwent renovation and was adapted by Carlsberg for use as a venue for corporate gatherings.
Architecture
Situated back from the street, access to the residence is granted through an iron gate positioned between the Carlsberg Museum and a guardhouse.
Built atop a granite foundation, the right facade is composed of red brick accented with glazed tiles and slate elements, complemented by window frames painted red. The main entrance is approached via stairs supported by granite columns, featuring a lintel inscribed in French with Bien faire—laisser dire ("do the right thing and let people talk"), a phrase also found at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
The left elevation, similarly constructed from red brick, is richly embellished with Zodiac motifs along its cornices. The roof, covered in slate shingles, includes copper flashing, decorative chimneys, and wrought iron ornamentation along its ridge.
Throughout the building's ornamentation are references to the Jacobsen family and their brewery heritage, including inscriptions of Carl, Ottilia, their offspring, and forebears on the facade facing the garden.
The servants' quarters are decorated with glazed ceramic reliefs depicting grasses and fruits created by K. Hansen Reistrup from the workshop of Kähler.
Garden
Extending along the rear of the house is an elevated veranda featuring a rough iron railing that overlooks the garden area. The Venetian-inspired pavilion, designed by Hack Kampmann in 1895, presents an open facade supported by two marble columns and three arches, with a balustrade crowning its roofline. Two parallel walkways bordered by replicas of classical sculptures link the various structures.
In 1896, Hack Kampmann also designed a thatched ice house. Ice was harvested from nearby Damhus Lake during winter or brought in from Norway. This building was later repurposed for storing fruits and other garden produce.