Philip de Lange House

Welcome to Copenhagen, Denmark! As a tourist guide, I am excited to take you on a journey through the historic Philip de Lange House in the Christianshavn neighborhood. The Philip de Lange House is a beautiful Rococo-style building that was built in association with a nitrary in the 1750s. It was the former home of Dutch-Danish architect and master builder Philip de Lange and is located at Prinsessegade 54. The house has a rich history and is now part of Christianshavn School, where it houses the school's after-school programs. The house was listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1932, which means that it is a significant cultural heritage site in Denmark. However, it is now hidden from the street by a school building from 1865, making it a hidden gem that not many people know about. Philip de Lange purchased a large site at Prinsessegade in 1755 and was granted a royal license to establish a nitrary in the grounds. A house for his own use was completed on the property later that same year. His second son, Philip Lange, who would himself become a prominent architect and master builder, was born the following year. Niter was one of the main ingredients in the manufacture of gunpowder, along with charcoal and sulphur from Iceland. The niter was extracted from enriched soil in shallow, rectangular niter beds which were fed with nitrate-rich materials such as urine, dead animals, blood, and soil from stables. This process was crucial for the production of gunpowder during the time when the Philip de Lange House was built. Visitors to the Philip de Lange House can admire the beautiful Rococo-style architecture and learn about the history of the nitrary and gunpowder production in Denmark. The house is also a great place to explore the life and work of Philip de Lange and his son, Philip Lange. In conclusion, the Philip de Lange House is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, architecture, and culture. As a tourist guide, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting Copenhagen.

Location: Copenhagen Municipality

Inception: 1755

Architect: Philip de Lange

Sources: Wikimedia, OpenStreetMap