Isn’t it striking how the Copenhagen Police Headquarters exudes both power and architectural elegance? This building is not just a police station. It is a landmark steeped in history. The Copenhagen Police Headquarters stands on Polititorvet. This is southwest of Copenhagen’s city center.
Designed in the Neoclassical style, also known as Nordic Classicism, the Copenhagen Police Headquarters was completed in 1924. Hack Kampmann began the design in 1918. Aage Rafn assisted him. Kampmann died in 1920. Rafn and others then completed the project.
Until the late 19th century, this area was Kalvebod Beach. In 1916, the city decided to build a police headquarters here. Before that, the police were in the Copenhagen Court House.
The Copenhagen Police Headquarters is considered the last example of Neoclassical architecture in Northern Europe. The design balances squares and circles. Light contrasts with darkness. Horizontal lines meet vertical ones. Inside, you will see Renaissance, Baroque, Roman, and Art Deco influences.
The exterior of the Copenhagen Police Headquarters looks intentionally stern. This makes the colorful interior even more attractive. Notice the dark terrazzo floors. The door and window frames are large and carefully crafted. The round courtyard is quite impressive. It spans 45 meters. Forty-four Doric columns surround it. In the small square courtyard, eight colossal pillars support a sculpture. It is called “Snake Killer” by Einar Utzon-Frank. Rafn drew inspiration from London’s dockland warehouses for the facade.
Upon its opening, some criticized the Copenhagen Police Headquarters. They saw it as outdated. Functionalism was becoming the popular style then.
The Copenhagen Police Headquarters has appeared in several films. It features prominently in the Olsen Gang movies. Also, the acclaimed TV series “The Killing” often shows the building. Even the music video for Laid Back’s “White Horse” includes scenes from its courtyard.
Inside the Copenhagen Police Headquarters, the round courtyard was Aage Rafn’s idea. Kampmann initially planned a square courtyard. Rafn found inspiration in Rome’s Pantheon and Alhambra’s palace. The round courtyard has a diameter of 44 meters. It features 88 columns. The columns support the offices and corridors above.
The square courtyard is also Rafn’s design. He drew inspiration from Andrea Palladio’s work in Venice. This courtyard is the Copenhagen Police Headquarters’ central space. Kampmann and Rafn disagreed on its design. Rafn’s design features eight columns.
The long hall near the police director’s office resembles a Spanish cloister. Its terrazzo floor has a unique swastika pattern. An Italian artist designed it. Rafn altered the design, creating a distinctive look. At the entrance to the outer office, a giant clam shell adorns the door. It symbolizes inflexibility.
The Copenhagen Police Headquarters stands as more than just a building. It represents Copenhagen’s history and its commitment to law and order.