published in
Illustreret Tidende on 23 January 1881 Kastellet The Artists' Home is located within the so-called
Fortification Ring, where Copenhagen's
Bastioned Fortifications ran until they were decommissioned and dug away in the 1950s. The architect
Ferdinand Meldahl was a key figure in its redevelopment as well as in the extension of Gothersgade as part of his
Søtorvet scheme. He also took the initiative to found the association which was responsible for the construction and running of the Artists' Home. The association was founded on
23 January 1873. Its first chairman, as proposed by Meldahl, was
Ole Berendt Suhr and after his death in 1875 the post was taken over by
Lauritz Peter Holmblad. Meldahl personally served as vice chairman. Other members were the flower painter William Hammer and the architectural painter
Heinrich Hansen, both personal friends of Meldahl. A long line of established artists donated works which were sold to raise money for the projects although the largest contributions came from the two first chairmen and other peers. The architect Henrik Hagemann agreed to design the building without payment. Construction began in 1877 and was completed the following year. In 1958, the Association for Acquisition of Residences for Artists purchased the nearby property Bartolinsgade 7. Its architect is unknown but it was completed in 1880. ==Architecture==