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A 300-year-old oak door painted in oxblood, a layout redolent of Schleswig building traditions, and a unique love of architectural heritage are the hallmarks of Prior's House in the Danish town of Ærøskøbing. A history lesson - but also the story of a love of the past.
Prior's House is a small townhouse from 1690 built in the Schleswig style with a traditional hallway, parlour and living room typical of the fashion on Ærø in that period.
The half-timbered house forms part of Ærøskøbing’s picturesque cultural landscape and stands as testimony to an era in which Denmark reckoned two duchies as part of its realm, and it is a reminder of Ærø’s strong links to Sønderjylland.
Not only that; Prior's house is a profound expression of a desire to preserve Denmark’s architectural heritage. For when the architect Alexis Prior (1877-1955) bought the house in 1917, he threw all of his energy into salvaging as much of the old house as possible. In so doing, Prior ushered in a new practice of restoring old Danish buildings; a tradition which Realdania By & Byg is keeping alive by securing a sustainable future for the house.
Credit: Helene Høyer Mikkelsen
Unknown
1690
Southern Denmark, Island of Ærø
Baroque and rokoko