Lauritz de Thurah
A Danish architect who shaped Copenhagen's skyline with elegant spires and wrote the first great history of his nation's buildings.
1706–1759 (age 53)·Danish architect·Birthday: March 4
Biography
Lauritz de Thurah was a man of both pencil and pen, leaving a dual legacy on Denmark's architectural consciousness. Largely self-taught after initial training as a military engineer, he embarked on extensive study tours, absorbing the Baroque and Rococo styles of France and Italy. Upon his return, he entered royal service, where his talent for dramatic, vertical emphasis found perfect expression. De Thurah became the master of the spire, designing the distinctive copper-sheathed bell towers that still crown the Church of Our Saviour in Copenhagen and the manor house at Hirschholm. These structures, playful and assertive, became defining features of the city's silhouette. His second, equally vital contribution was as a writer. His meticulously researched and illustrated architectural guides, especially the seminal 'Den Danske Vitruvius', provided the first comprehensive record of Denmark's architectural heritage, preserving knowledge of buildings that would later be lost and influencing generations of builders.
#1 When Lauritz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1706
Lauritz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1706Born
1711Started school
1719Became a teenager
1722Could drive
1724Could vote
1727Turned 21
1736Turned 30
1746Turned 40
1756Turned 50
1759Died at 53
Key Achievements
- Designed the iconic helical spire of the Church of Our Saviour in Copenhagen, completed in 1752.
- Authored 'Den Danske Vitruvius', the first major systematic survey of Danish architecture and building practice.
- Served as the Director of the Royal Danish Building Authority, overseeing major state projects.
- Designed the grand Hirschholm Palace, a royal residence hailed as the 'Versailles of the North' (later demolished).
Did You Know?
The external staircase winding around the spire of the Church of Our Saviour was his innovative design, allowing visitors to ascend.
He began his career not as an architect but as a military engineer and draftsman for the navy.
His architectural writings were so authoritative they were used as practical handbooks by contemporary builders.
Much of his greatest work, including Hirschholm Palace, was commissioned by King Christian VI.
“Architecture is frozen history; my book is its permanent record.”
