Kornerup’s Town Hall in Vordingborg

Kornerup’s Town Hall was built in 1843-45. With its yellow frontage, brown window frames and ogival Gothic windows and doors, the town hall was an expression of the new and emerging style of the day: Historicism, which borrowed its stylistic features from the architecture of the past. Historicism was to heavily influence the architecture of the nineteenth century, and in particular the many town halls built in the period as a result of changes to state control, with the abolition of the absolute monarchy. Therefore, Kornerup’s Town Hall heralds not only a new direction in architecture, but also in Danish society as a whole.

Kornerup’s Town Hall was built as the town’s centre point, and stands as a potent, imposing building facing the royal seat of the Valdemar dynasty with its famous Goose Tower. Long into the twentieth century, the building served as the centre for the town administration. With the restoration of the old town hall, Vordingborg can now make use of the property as offices and conference rooms. The buildings are currently leased to Vordingborg Municipality, and they will continue to be the focal point of the town, providing a venue for school activities and a home for the Danish Castle Centre, the Municipality, the town’s tourist information centre and much more besides.

As part of Realdania By & Byg’s restoration of the property, a prison building to the rear of the main property, which was not a listed building, was demolished. In place of the prison, a partially sunken modern office block has been built, the roof of which functions as a kind of square – a roof terrace open to the public. A ramp runs along the full length of the building, connecting a lower square behind the town proper with the town square via a previously closed gateway flanking the town hall. Today the gateway once again stands open, inviting free movement and bringing the town closer together.

Kornerup’s Town Hall was built in 1843-45. With its yellow frontage, brown window frames and ogival Gothic windows and doors, the town hall was an expression of the new and emerging style of the day: Historicism, which borrowed its stylistic features from the architecture of the past. Historicism was to heavily influence the architecture of the nineteenth century, and in particular the many town halls built in the period as a result of changes to state control, with the abolition of the absolute monarchy. Therefore, Kornerup’s Town Hall heralds not only a new direction in architecture, but also in Danish society as a whole.

Kornerup’s Town Hall was built as the town’s centre point, and stands as a potent, imposing building facing the royal seat of the Valdemar dynasty with its famous Goose Tower. Long into the twentieth century, the building served as the centre for the town administration. With the restoration of the old town hall, Vordingborg can now make use of the property as offices and conference rooms. The buildings are currently leased to Vordingborg Municipality, and they will continue to be the focal point of the town, providing a venue for school activities and a home for the Danish Castle Centre, the Municipality, the town’s tourist information centre and much more besides.

As part of Realdania By & Byg’s restoration of the property, a prison building to the rear of the main property, which was not a listed building, was demolished. In place of the prison, a partially sunken modern office block has been built, the roof of which functions as a kind of square – a roof terrace open to the public. A ramp runs along the full length of the building, connecting a lower square behind the town proper with the town square via a previously closed gateway flanking the town hall. Today the gateway once again stands open, inviting free movement and bringing the town closer together.