Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen (German:[ˈteːofiːlfɔnˈhanzn̩]; original Danish name: Theophilus Hansen, pronounced[tsʰe̝oˈfiːlusˈhænˀsn̩]; 13 July 1813 – 17 February 1891) was a Danish architect who later became an Austrian citizen. He became particularly well known for his buildings and structures in Athens and Vienna, and is considered an outstanding representative of Neoclassicism and Historicism.[1]
The Greek-Austrian entrepreneur Georgios Sinas (1783–1856), who donated the observatory, called Hansen to Vienna in 1846, where Hansen took up an apprenticeship with noted Austrian architect Ludwig Förster (1797–1863). In his early works, such as the museum in the Vienna Arsenal, Hansen was still rather aligned to a more romantic style. In later years, he became the most outstanding representative of Renaissance-inspired historicism (Neo-Renaissance), which also came to be known as Viennese-style. This style extended into the smallest details of the interior design and partially accepted the courses of a synthesis of the arts.[5]
Along with Förster and many others, Hansen was one of the most important and influential architects of the Viennese Ringstraße. His most famous work is the Austrian Parliament building, which was created in the style of an ancient, neo-classic temple, and serves to refer to the Greek beginnings of democracy. Hansen was originally a staunch critic of the Classical style that was taught to him at the Copenhagen Academy. Over the years, however, he came to incorporate Classical elements into his forms. Bauleiter on this project was Swiss-Austrian architect Hans Auer (1847–1906) who would go on to win the competition for the Swiss Bundeshaus.[6]
Hansen's famed Musikverein in Vienna is one of the most notable concert halls in the world; a concert hall whose design and acoustics are often admired and copied in present-day music houses.[7]
The modern Academy of Athens, next to the University of Athens and the National Library (not shown) forming "the Athenian Trilogy". The academy and the university buildings were designed by Theophil Hansen (1885) in Greek Ionic, academically correct even to the polychrome sculpture. The statues and columns were worked by Leonidas Drosis.
Hansen worked together with Austrian sculptor Vincenz Pilz (1816–1896) and artist Carl Rahl (1812–1865), as well as with architect Otto Wagner (1841–1918).[8][9][10]
In 1884 Emperor Franz Joseph honoured Hansen with a barony in the Austrian nobility and he was since styled "Freiherr von Hansen".[11][12]
George Niemann (ed.), Ferdinand von Feldegg: Theophilus Hansen und seine Werke. A. Schroll & Co., Wien 1893.
Andreas P. Pittler, Hermann Schnell: Der Baumeister des Parliaments – Theophil Hansen (1813–1891). Edition Winkler-Hermaden, Vienna 2013, ISBN978-3950361100
Adolf Stiller (ed).: Theophil Hansen – Klassische Eleganz im Alltag. Müry Salzmann, Salzburg / Vienna 2013, ISBN978-3-990140-76-5.
Alice Strobl: "Das k. k. Waffenmuseum im Arsenal. Der Bau und seine künstlerische Ausschmückung", in: Schriften des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums in Wien, published by the museum. Graz / Cologne, 1961
Renate Wagner-Rieger and Mara Reissberger (1980) Theophil von Hansen. (Series: Die Wiener Ringstraße VIII; vol. 4) Wiesbaden: Steiner ISBN3-515-02676-2
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