Asiatisk Plads

Asiatisk Plads is a waterfront area in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is bounded by Torvegade to the south, next to Knippel Bridge, Strandgade to the east and the Old Dock area to the north. It takes its name from Danish Asia Company which was based at the site from its foundation in 1732 until 1843 when it was dissolved. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now based in the area, in a purpose-built office complex from 1980 as well as in the surviving buildings of the Danish Asia Company, its former head office and two converted warehouses, all of which are listed. Asiatisk Plads is frequently used as a metonym for the Ministry.

Asiatisk Plads seen from the water

History
Danish Asia Company painted by Johannes Rach & H.H. Eegberg

Danish Asia Company was founded in 1732 as a replacement for the Danish East India Company which had been dissolved in 1729. A head office for the company was built at a site just south of Old Dry Dock in 1738 to a design by Philip de Lange. The complex was later expanded with the addition of two warehouses.

Danish Asia Company seen from the street in a painting from c. 1888

Danish Asia Company was dissolved in 1843 and the company's premises at Christianshavn were then acquired by Jacob Holm, owner both of a shipyard and what had grown to be the largest shipping company in the country at the time.[1]

The southern part of the grounds was redeveloped in 1978-1980 when a new home was built for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to designs by Haldor Gunnløgson (1918-1985) and Jørn Nielsen (1919-1996). The complex consists of three buildings with gables facing the water in accordance with the traditions for warehouses. Their monotonous Modernist designs have been heavily criticized.[2]

Architecture
Asiatisk Plads

Philip de Lange's former head office for the Danish Asia Company is designed in the Late Baroque style. The facade is decorated with a relief, probably by Johann Christoph Petzold, featuring Neptune.[3]

A short wall with a gate connects the building to a warehouse which was built at the neighbouring site in 1781 to a design by J. B. Schottmann. To achieve symmetry, the warehouse has a facade similar to that of the head office in terms of proportions and facade pattern while it is a typical warehouse as seen from the water.[2]

The site also includes the Eigtved Warehouse which was built for the Danish Asia Company from 1748 to 1750. It is named after its architect, Nicolai Eigtved, who was responsible for the planning of Frederiksstaden around the same time as well as for many prominent buildings such as Amalienborg Palace.

Erik Møller Architects refurbished all three buildings and adapted them to the needs of the Foreign Ministry between 1979 and 1982.[2]

Public art

The quay features three abstract sculptures by Søren Georg Jensen: The Cyclop (Kyklopen), The Long Journey (Den Lange Rejse) and Figurehead (Galionsfigur).

See also

References
  1. "Danmarks ældste forretninger, m.m. - Jacob Holm & Sønner" (in Danish). Krak. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. "Strandgade 25/Asiatisk Plads 2". indenforvoldene.dk. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  3. "Asiatisk Plads" (in Danish). Selskabet for Københavns Historie. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
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