Classensgade is a street in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It runs from Østerbrogade in the southwest to Østbanegade in the northeast.

Classensgade
Length800 m (2,600 ft)
LocationCopenhagen, Denmark
QuarterØsterbro
Postal code2100
Nearest metro stationØsteråprt
Coordinates55°41′50.98″N 12°35′4.98″E / 55.6974944°N 12.5847167°E / 55.6974944; 12.5847167
West endØsterbrogade
East endStrandboulevarden

History

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Justinenborg

The street is named after major-general and industrialist Johan Frederik Classen. whose summer retreat, Classens Have ("Classen's Garden") was located in the area. It had a vast garden as indicated by the name. Having no children, Classen endowed his estate to a foundation, Det Classenske Fideicommis.[1]

Classensgade originates in the access road to a property, Justineborg, which was named after Classen's sister-in_law. The street was officially named Classensvej ("Classen's Road#) in 1860. The short section from Lille Triangle to Kastelsvej was then part of Kastelsvej. In 1889, Classensvej and the first short section of Kastelsvej were renamed Classensgade.[2]

Notable buildings

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Np. 17-19: Classensgaard

One of the only surviving country houses in Østerbro, Øbrogård or Vennero, is located in the courtyard of No. 11. It dates from the 19th century.

Classensgård (Np. 17-19), located opposite Kastelsvej, is a high-end apartment building. The facade surrounds a small cul-de-sac, a solution chosen to make the most of the site without employment of the traditional courtyard buildings. The building features two corner towers and a small bell tower as well as a clock gface at the bottom of the cul-de-sac. The building is from 1909.

 
No. 44: Høkerforeningens Stiftelse

Høkerforeningens Stiftelse (No. 44) is from 1862. Classens Have (No. 52-68) is a large Neoclassical apartment complex from 1922-24 designed by Povl Baumann, Peter Nielsen and Ole Falkentorp based on a project by Hans Koch og Carl Petersen. The perimeter block surrounds a large garden complex.[3]

The Neoclassical property at No. 59-65 was designed by Henning Hansen. No. 70, a building from 1931 designed by Thorkild Henningsen, is an example of the transition from Neoclassicism to Modernism.

Public art, monuments and memorials

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Np. 38: Cow

On a small mound in Classen's Garden stands a memorial to Johan Frederik Classen. The medallion with a portrait relief of Classen was designed by Johannes Wiedewelt.[4]

A marble plaque on No. 40 commemorates that the entertainer Victor Borge was born in the building. The plaque features a portrait of Borge as well as a quote by him, stating that the smile is the shortest distance between two people.[5]

Transport

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The nearest station is Østerport, served both by metro, S-trains, regional and intercity trains. Movia bus line 37 runs through the street.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Classensgade". hovedstadshistorie.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Livet omkring Classens Have". dengang.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Sag: Ved Classens Have" (in Danish). Kulturstyrelsen. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Sag: Classens Have" (in Danish). Kulturstyrelsen. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Mindetavle for Victor Borge" (in Danish). Københavns Biblioteker. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
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