Christian Christie

Career

After his education he studied architecture from 1849 to 1852 at the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover and from 1852 to 1854 in Karlsruhe, where he studied with the architect Friedrich Eisenlohr. In 1855 he returned to Norway and he was in Bergen, where he founded an architectural firm. At the same time he had from 1858 to 1872 an office in Christiania (now Oslo). As an architect, he was involved in the construction of various structures as well as in many restorations of historic buildings in Norway. So he built from 1865-1868, the new Borgund Church ( Borgund kirke ), which is located next to the old stave church Borgund and about 1872 the Haraldsstøtten ( national monument Harald Haugen ) in Haugesund. In the 1860s, was responsible for the construction of the State Archives ( Stiftsarkivet ) in Trondheim.

The growing national identity in Norway at that time, was expressed at this time by a strong interest in the preservation of cultural assets and the associated memory of the Norwegian heyday in the Middle Ages. As a result, commissioned by the Norwegian Association for the preservation of cultural and historical monuments Fortidsminneforeningen Christie several times for its reconstruction projects.

So was responsible as an architect for the planning and restoration of several medieval Norwegian buildings, including 1873 Håkonshallen and from 1872 the Bergen Domkirke and St Mary's Church in Bergen.

Christian Christies work at Nidaros Cathedral

Christie cardinal life's work was the restoration of the Nidarosdomes, which he headed from 1872 until his death in 1906. He took over the construction management as cathedral architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer from his predecessor, who headed the fundamental reconstruction of Nidarosdomes from 1869. Schirmer had indeed previously also conducted the reconstruction of the cathedral in the way, but was criticized for his work and his artistic plans for the restoration of proponents of an archaeological reconstruction. Since almost all historical models lacked the Nidaros Cathedral, based reconstruction under Schirmer largely on speculation. By Christie promised to use in the reconstruction improvement in this respect, yet the cathedral according to the concept of its predecessor Schirmer was further reconstructed.

Under Christie's director and primary responsibility, the restoration of the choir, the octagon of the Dome, the superstructure of the nave and the lower parts of the western nave were promoted at this time. He wrote some preliminary studies for the reconstruction of Nidarosdomes in the Gothic style, which also came in part for. Christie but also reviewed thoroughly the usefulness of available archaeological material in order to stay closer to unlike his predecessor at the historic original and reconstructed through these parts the church on a fairly solid base. It was his main goal, to bring the reconstruction of the Nidaros Cathedral back to its original Gothic and Romanesque form. For this reason, he had systematically all recent additions, including the later added octagonal baroque helmet of the church tower, to remove. Christie's careful and precise work in the reconstruction of his time received wide recognition in professional circles, even though by today's standards his approach is regarded as insensitive and somewhat coarse.

Despite all that, he also was not unscathed and was criticized even in his time, as well as Schirmer lacked reliable sources and archaeological material for an appropriate reconstruction. Christie was oriented in the reconstruction of the theses of the French architect Eugène Viollet -le- Duc and the British Giles Gilbert Scott. These represented the principle of stylistic unity, which has already been criticized at the time Christies, because as " restored " buildings could end up in a state they never had before. Viollet -le- Duc and his supporters are now sometimes referred to as " restorative vandals ". When the Nidaros Cathedral in this case meant the destruction of valuable architectural parts from the 16th and 17th centuries as well as from the early 1800s, the style did not fit the reconstruction after Christie's opinion.

Shortly after the reconstruction and completion of the main tower in 1903, were again increased criticism on his work as architect of the Cathedral. It was especially criticized that was constructed based on its architectural considerations, including the height of the steeple too low again and he did not consider in the design enough to archaeological evidence. According to his plans, the new characteristic copper spire was built in 1901 on the main tower of the cathedral, also without proper historical foundations. Christie also developed the blueprints for the new construction of the west front of the cathedral, but was discarded after his death.

By gradually increasing criticism of his approach at the Nidaros Cathedral in 1905 it should be dismissed as cathedral architect. However, the debates to retreated to the length and it came before his death, no final decision. Christie was thus able to continue the restoration work on the cathedral until his death in 1906.

After his death, the Norwegian architect Henrik Bull and were later entrusted Olaf Nordhagen to rebuild.

Awards and honors

A commemorative plaque to Christie Christian was later mounted after his death in the south transept of the Nidarosdomes that commemorates his work at the Nidaros Cathedral. Furthermore, it was also named a street in Trondheim to Christian Christie. Christie in 1880 Knight of the class 1 to 1895 Commander, 1897 appointed Commander with Star of the Olav's Order and Further he was (1st Class Knight ) awarded the Dannebrogorden, and honored with the Royal Prussian Order of the Crown.

Family

Christian Christie was the son of customs officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie (1785-1872) and his wife Hansine Langsted ( 1802-1864 ). He remained all his life unmarried and childless. To his relatives were among many in Norway and beyond known or prominent figures, including his brother, the famous Norwegian lawyer and politician Hans Langsted Christie (1826-1907), his cousin, the writer Johan Koren Christie (1814-1885), his uncle, the politician Edvard Eilert Christie (1773-1831), his nephew, the constitutional lawyer Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (1778-1849) and his great-nephew, major General of the Norwegian Air Force Hosewinckel Werner Christie (December 13, 1917 - December 29, 2004 ).