Frederiksberg Åndsvageanstalt


Frederiksberg Åndsvageanstalt is a former mental health treating institution for children located on Rahbeks Allé in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in 1855 and moved to Ebberød in Birkerød in 1970. Its old main building from 1860 was designed by Gerdinand Meldahl and is listed. It now houses the cloathing brand By Malene Birger. Another building has been converted into a daycare. The buildings are located adjacent to the former Carlsberg brewery site which is under redevelopment into a new, dense neighbourhood.

History

Helbredelsesanstalten for idiotiske Børn, also referred to as Idiotanstalten, was founded in 1855 and originally based in the nadkacent property Bakkehuset. Its new building was built 1859-1860 to design by Ferdinand Meldahl.
The institution later changed name to Frederiksberg Åndsvageanstalt and moved to Ebberød in Birkerød in 1970 and the building was listed in 1976. It was used by Carlsberg Group until 2008 and for a while housed its subsidiary DanBrew.

Architecture

The building has an H-shaped floor plan. It is built in red and yellow brick in a Historicist style inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture. Facade decorations include terracotta reliefs of laurel wreaths.

Today

It has later been rented out to smaller companies, including the By Malene Birger clothing company. Another building was purchased by Copenhagen Municipality in 2013 and converted into a daycare.