Strandboulevarden

Strandboulevarden (literally "Beach Boulevard") is a major street in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It begins at Fridtjof Nansens Plads as the continuation of Kristianiagade and continues for about 2 kilometres north to Østerbrogade where it turns into Jagtvej.

History

Decided by the City Council in 1894 and opened opened in 1897, Strandboulevarden was founded in connection with the establishment of the Freeport of Copenhagen in the mid-1890s and the opening of the railway between Hellerip and Østerport which moved the coastline north of Copenhagen several hundred eastwards in the mid-1890s. The first section of the street, south of Nordre Frihavnegade, incorporated an existing street, Gefionsgade, slightly more narrow than the rest of the boulevard, which had been founded a few years earlier. The initial plan was to nuild a bridge across the wailway tracks which would allow the boulevard to continue north along presentday Strandpromenaden but that part of the project was never carried out. Strandboulevarden was instead connected to Østerbrogade, following an existing street, Sibbernsgade, which had been founded in 1860.^[1]

Originally the central reservation contained three rows of London planetrees flanking a promenade for pedestrians. The central row of trees disappeared when the promenade was replaced by a tram line between 1938 and 1958.

Notable buildings and residents

The historicist main building of Vibenhus School was designed by city architect Ludvig Fenger. Its façade on Strandboulevarden does not fluctuate with the neighbouring buildings since it was completed in 1892 when the alignment of the boulevard had not yet been decided on.

No. 49 is the former Finsen Institute. The main building was designed by Gotfred Tvede and opened in 1921. The complex was later expanded by Kay Fisker and C. F. Møller in 1937.^[2] Kay Fisker has also designed Mødrehjælpen's building at No. 6. It was completed in 1955.^[3]

References