# Hans Linstow > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hans_Linstow > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hans_Linstow.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Linstow > Source revision: 1335894259 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Danish/Norwegian architect Portrait of Linstow by [Carl Peter Lehmann](/source/Carl_Peter_Lehmann), 1842 Norwegian Royal Palace (front) Linstow's 1838 plan to connect the Royal Palace and Christiania, with a monumental square to be surrounded by the University, Parliament and other public buildings **Hans Ditlev Franciscus (Frants) von Linstow** (4 May 1787 – 10 June 1851) was a [Danish](/source/Denmark)/[Norwegian](/source/Norway) [architect](/source/Architect) who designed the [Royal Palace](/source/Royal_Palace%2C_Oslo) in Oslo and much of the surrounding park and the street *[Karl Johans gate](/source/Karl_Johans_Street)*.[1] ## Background Hans Ditlev Franciscus von Linstow was born in Hørsholm, [Denmark](/source/Denmark). His parents were Hartvig Christoph von Linstow (1740–1823) and Charlotta Benedicta Eleonora von der Lühe (1753–1837). Linstow belonged to a noble family from [Mecklenburg](/source/Mecklenburg) who were naturalized in Denmark. He grew up in Hirschholm Castle (*Hirschholm Slot*) in [Hørsholm](/source/H%C3%B8rsholm). He matriculated in 1805 and earned a law degree at [Copenhagen University](/source/Copenhagen_University) in 1812. He first studied painting and drawings at the Art Academy in [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen), Denmark, while he at the same time studied [law](/source/Law). [2] ## Career After finalizing these studies in 1812, he went to [Kongsberg](/source/Kongsberg_(town)), Norway (which then was united with Denmark) and studied in 1812–1814 at the so-called [Bergakademiet](/source/Kongsberg_School_of_Mines), which educated [military engineers](/source/Military_engineer). He did not, however, complete this military education, but studied [architecture](/source/Architecture) at the same time. He worked at the Danish Royal Court in 1814, but at the dissolution of the union between Denmark and Norway the same year, he went to Norway and worked in 1815–1820 as a military [lawyer](/source/Lawyer) at the [cavalry](/source/Cavalry). In 1818, he was one of the initiators of the [Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry](/source/Norwegian_National_Academy_of_Craft_and_Art_Industry) in [Christiania](/source/Oslo). He taught, first [plaster](/source/Plaster), and later building construction until he took his leave in 1840.[2] In 1823, he was commissioned to design the new [Royal Palace](/source/Royal_Palace%2C_Oslo) (*Det Kongelige Slott*) in Christiania and create the surrounding park, where he also drew the guards' house. He also helped his friend, the writer [Henrik Wergeland](/source/Henrik_Wergeland) in constructing his new house *[Grotten](/source/Grotten)* in the outskirts of the park. Both these buildings are examples of his early use of the [Swiss chalet style](/source/Swiss_chalet_style) in his drawings.[3] Since the Royal Palace was erected outside the main city area, Linstow proposed a plan in 1838 to connect the palace to the city. The main parts of this plan were realized in what is now the main boulevard and tourist area, the *[Karl Johans gate](/source/Karl_Johans_gate)*. In 1828–1835, Linstow worked on a set of standard drawings for Norwegian churches. About seventy different churches were erected all over Norway based on these drawings.[2] [4] ## Legacy In 1885, a street *Linstows gate* in Christiania was named for him. ## Selected works - [Grue Church](/source/Grue_Church) in [Solør](/source/Sol%C3%B8r), 1823–28 - [Royal Palace](/source/Royal_Palace%2C_Oslo) in [Oslo](/source/Oslo), 1823–48 - [Atrå Church](/source/Atr%C3%A5_Church) in [Tinn](/source/Tinn_Municipality), 1828–36 - [Flekkefjord Church](/source/Flekkefjord_Church) in [Agder](/source/Agder), 1831–33 - [Kvinesdal Church](/source/Kvinesdal_Church) in [Agder](/source/Agder), 1835–37 - [Vikøy Church](/source/Vik%C3%B8y_Church) in [Kvam](/source/Kvam_Municipality) in [Hardanger](/source/Hardanger), 1838 - Lyngdal Rectory in [Lyngdal](/source/Lyngdal_Municipality) in [Agder](/source/Agder), 1838 - [Gjesdal Church](/source/Gjesdal_Church) - [Rugsund Church](/source/Rugsund_Church) - [Old Nærbø Church](/source/Old_N%C3%A6rb%C3%B8_Church) - [Flekkefjord Church](/source/Flekkefjord_Church) - [Vikøy Church](/source/Vik%C3%B8y_Church) - [Grue Church](/source/Grue_Church) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Eldal, Jens Christian (2024-06-18), ["Hans Ditlev Frantz Linstow"](https://nbl.snl.no/Hans_Ditlev_Frantz_Linstow), *Norsk biografisk leksikon* (in Norwegian), retrieved 2024-07-13 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kdw_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kdw_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-kdw_2-2) Anne Lise Thygesen. ["Hans Ditlev Frantz von Linstow"](https://www.kulturarv.dk/kid/VisWeilbach.do?kunstnerId=8994&wsektion=biografi). Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved May 1, 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Architecture of the Royal Palace* (Kongehuset.no)](http://www.kongehuset.no/c33241/artikkel/vis.html?tid=33242) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Jens Christian Eldal (20 February 2017). ["Hans Ditlev Frantz von Linstow"](https://nkl.snl.no/Hans_Ditlev_Franciscus_Linstow). Norsk kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved May 1, 2019. Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Hans Linstow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hans_Linstow). Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States Artists ULAN RKD Artists KulturNav --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hans Linstow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Linstow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Linstow?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.