Gamle Posthus (Old Post Office)
Description
Hans Egdes gate 3, Harstad
The old post office is centrally located in the Harstad town centre. It is a well-preserved town centre estate, brick three-storied building and was erected as a post office. The building was designed by Arnesen and Kaarbø, an architecture firm in Bergen. Arthur Darre Kaarbø was a relative of Rikard Kaarbø, founder of the shipyard Kaarbøverftet in Harstad
The old post office site is situated opposite of the park Generalhagen, with large store-front windows around the front of the building. It is symmetrically designed, and has a simple classicistic style along with a Neo Baroque quality. Along the south and north sides of the building, the façade follows the roadway. Within this district block there is an open courtyard. The façade has a simple design, with plastered walls that are painted yellow. The beam ties, located between the second and third storey, are a detail that is often associated with the Jugendstil. At the top the building it terminates with a slate covered hipped roof.
Throughout the years this building has changed owners on a number of different occasions. Thus this building has had a number of different purposes, such as a school of commerce, music school and art gallery. Today none of the original interior is left remaining, and there are tentative plans to convert it into flats as well as a art gallery.
The old post office site is situated opposite of the park Generalhagen, with large store-front windows around the front of the building. It is symmetrically designed, and has a simple classicistic style along with a Neo Baroque quality. Along the south and north sides of the building, the façade follows the roadway. Within this district block there is an open courtyard. The façade has a simple design, with plastered walls that are painted yellow. The beam ties, located between the second and third storey, are a detail that is often associated with the Jugendstil. At the top the building it terminates with a slate covered hipped roof.
Throughout the years this building has changed owners on a number of different occasions. Thus this building has had a number of different purposes, such as a school of commerce, music school and art gallery. Today none of the original interior is left remaining, and there are tentative plans to convert it into flats as well as a art gallery.
Year of construction
1921
Architect
Fredrik Arnesen
Arthur Darre Kaarbø
Client
Norway Post
Building Type
Post Office
Construction System / Materials
Brick
plaster
Keywords
post office
brick
plaster
classicism
neo-baroque
hipped roof
slate
Literature
Bruun, Ola and Jim Myrstad, "Fond mot generalhagen - Bylandskap Harstad 100 år 2004", in Harstad Tidende 20.12.2002, pp. 30-31.
Map
