Christians Plejehus

Christians Plejehus is a former military retirement home for war veterans in Store Kongensgade in Copenhagen, Denmark. The building complex is listed.

Christians Plejehus
The facade on Store Kongensgade
General information
Architectural styleNeoclassical
LocationCopenhagen, Denmark
Coordinates55°41′12.24″N 12°35′25.76″E
Construction started1767
Completed1769
ClientRoyal Danish Army
Design and construction
ArchitectChristian Carl Pflueg

History
Seal from Christians Plejehus

In the early 1760s, Christian Carl Pflueg. an officer in the engineering troops, proposed an improvement of the conditions in the home for war veterans at Ladegården. In 1764, the fieldmarshal-general assigned him as an assistant to the director of the institution. The following year he left the engineering troops to assume a position as director of a new institution which was given the name Christians Plejehjem after Christian VII. Kammerråd Gilles Vilhelm Faenen's former factory site in Store Kongensgade was chosen as the location of the new institution[1] and Plejehus designed the buildings which were completed in 1769. The complex contained a linen weaving mill operated by the residents using yarn made by soldier wives and daughters. Other crafts were also practiced in the facility.[2] The complex was originally intended for 300 residents but was home to 500 by 1772 approximately half of which were children.[1]

The building in the late 19th century

In 1775, Christians Plejehus was moved to Sølvgade Barracks together with Almindelig Hospital and Pflueg was placed under supervision of a director general since his administration was deemed to costly. The move hadm however, disturbed the operations of the weaving mill and deteriorated the institution economy even further. In 1782, Pflueg was fired without pension and Christians Plejehus moved to Eckernførde in Schleswig-Holstein in 1785.[2]

When Christians Plejehus moved to Sølvgade in 1775, its old buildings in Store Kongensgade were taken over by Det kgl. Opfostringshus. It was based there until 1880 when a new building in Randersgade in Østerbro was inaugurated in 1880.

The Salvation Army rented the chapel from 1886 until 1948[2] and became home to several house share collectives in the 1960s.[3] It has later been converted into a housing cooperative. The buildings were renovated in 2009.

Building
The rear side of the main wing
One of the two courtyards

The building is 15 bays long has a median risalit with rustication and the ground floor is decorated with 10 lesenes. Above the gate is a two-bay wall dormer and a coat of arms Frederick V's monogram and. The gate opens to two consecutive courtyards. The wing separating the two courtyards from each other contains the chapel.[4]

Today

The comples contains a mixture of apartments and offices.

References
  1. "Kirken i Christians Plejehus" (PDF). danmarkskirker.natmus.dk. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  2. "Christian Carl Pflueg". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  3. "Christians plejehus - C.C. Pflueg fra Uggerslevgaard". nordfynsk.dk. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  4. "Store Kongensgade 108". indenforvoldene.dk. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
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