“There is probably no Art Nouveau environment in Europe which is quite so characteristic as Ålesund. Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt or Avenue Louise in Brussels are impressive, but nothing can compare to Ålesund when it comes to extent and diversity.” (Director General of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Mr. Stephan Tschudi-Madsden, Ph.D., 1975.)

Why? – It started with the great fire on the stormy night of 23 January 1904, at 2:15am. In a few dramatic hours, 800 houses went up in smoke and 11,000 people were left homeless. What used to be Ålesund was virtually destroyed. Ålesund’s reconstruction was deemed to be a project of national importance and more than 50 architects came from all over Norway to take part in it.

It was a unique possibility to develop a new, urban Norwegian architecture in stone, brick and plaster. The architects were inspired by international – especially German – influences, as well as by National Romanticism.

In the course of just three years, a new town rose like a phoenix from the ashes. More than 320 Art Nouveau buildings were constructed side by side in a compact centeral area, creating what is perhaps Europe’s most complete Art Nouveau cityscape. Equally impressive is the town’s interplay with its beautiful setting: the sea and sounds, the mountains, islands and fjords.

Welcome to Ålesund!

“Ålesund is exeptional amongst Norwegian cities. Hardly anywhere else has such an extensive and complete environment been preserved, providing us with a unique example of a concentrated city in a small area, and what this once meant. Spaces created on a human scale, and with consistent but varied features, are qualities that above all characterise Ålesund.” (Professor Christian Norberg-Schultz, 1975.)

Image artist function date
Karl Norum Architect 1852-1911
Hagbarth Schytte-Berg Architect 1860-1944
Jens Zetlitz Monrad Kielland Architect 1866-1926
Christian Fürst Architect 1860-1910
Harald Krogh Stabell Architect 1874-1936
Carl Michaelsen Architect 1869-1940
Kristian Tobias Rivertz Architect 1862-1937
Mathias Nicolai Brække Architect 1973-1919
Cover Author Description date Link
Harald Grytten, Jiri Havran Jugendbyen Ålesund - The city of Art Nouveau
Arfo, In Norwegian and English.
ISBN: 82-91399-02-6.
1997
Farstad, Aud Jorunn Lys opp! elektrisiteten - moderniteten - jugendstilen. Jugendstilsenteret
elektrisiteten - moderniteten - jugendstilen. Jugendstilsenteret

2006
Sandved, David Aasen Olaf Lange - Jugendstil og symbolisme i norsk grafikk/Jugendstil and Symbolism in the Graphic Art of Norway. Jugendstilsenteret.
Jugendstil og symbolisme i norsk grafikk/Jugendstil and Symbolism in the Graphic Art of Norway. Jugendstilsenteret.

2005
Tvinnereim, Helga Stave Arkitektur i Ĺlesund 1904
1907 Oppattbygginga av byen etter brannen 23. januar 1904. Magistergradsavhandling i kunsthistorie. Universitetet i Oslo.


1981
Synnes, Ada Lene Ĺlesund-en by i rivende utvikling
Hovedfagsoppgave i etnologi, Institutt for Kulturstudier og Kunsthistorie, Universitetet i Bergen.

1998
Melsćter, Torgeir Fire byggherrer og en arkitekt,
noen glimt fra deler av Ĺlesunds nćringsliv og bygningshistorie i ti-ĺra omkring bybrannen i 1904.

2003
Monsen, Line og Eivind Olsen Tilstandsvurdering - Jugendstilhus i Ĺlesund, Hovedoppgave, NTNU


2003
Monsen, Line og Eivind Olsen Tilstandsvurdering - Jugendstilhus i Ĺlesund, Bilag, Hovedoppgave, NTNU
Tilstandsvurdering - Jugendstilhus i Ĺlesund, Hovedoppgave, NTNU

2003
Schrřder, Marte Kjersti Spillet om jugendbyen - en lokalmaktstudie i Ĺlesund kommune, Hovedoppgave i statsvitenskap, Universitetet i Oslo
en lokalmaktstudie i Ĺlesund kommune, Hovedoppgave i statsvitenskap, Universitetet i Oslo

2001
Ĺlesund kommune, Teknisk sektor Verne-og byformingsplan for ĺlesund sentrum, Plan- og bygningsavdelingen
Verne-og byformingsplan for ĺlesund sentrum, Plan- og bygningsavdelingen

2001
Lande, Tove K. "som strĺler fra Kristi herlighet ind i vor sjćl"
Hovedfagsoppgave i Kunsthistorie, Universitetet i Bergen

2000
Braaten, Ivar Gunnar Opp av asken- arbeiderbevegelsens framvekst under gjenreisingen av Ĺlesund etter brannen i 1904, Hovedoppgave i historie, Universitetet i Oslo.


1983
Berg, Christian, Jan -Olav Toft, Nils Erik Rřsvik og Egil Wahl En bygningsanalyse af Carl E. Rřnneberg og Sřnners forretningslokale av arkitekt Karl Norum, NTH


1980

Partner:

Jugendstilsenteret – The Art Nouveau Centre
Jugendstilsenteret Apotekergata 16
NO – 6004 Ålesund Norway
Phone: + 47 70104970
Fax: +47 70104971
E-mail: post@jugendstilsenteret.no

Local Partners:

Ålesund Tourist Board

The Municipality of Ålesund

The County of Møre and Romsdal

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Affairs