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Green facades in Denmark

In Denmark, green facades played an important role even 100 years ago and more, as the examples show.

Facade greening with Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinqefolia) on a house in Strandegaard / Zealand
Facade greening with Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinqefolia) on a house in Strandegaard / Zealand

There were grape trellises, but also espalier fruit trees and many other climbing plants such as wisteria. Ivy is very common, as in neighbouring Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It is noteworthy that virtually all forms of wooden trellises were represented, including the diamond shapes more commonly seen in France. A wide variety of forms were gathered here in a relatively small space. Wire trellises, on the other hand, did not play a role; not a single example can be found. Monasteries, manor houses and farms were covered in greenery, as were holiday homes, schools, etc.


Syddanmark

Various climbing plants on a half-timbered house / Southern Denmark, c. 1950On the right, hollyhocks by a house on Prinzengasse in Fredericia / Southern Denmark, c. 1910Probably a grapevine at a farmstead in Faaborg, southern Denmark, c. 1950Ivy (Hedera helix) on the eaves of Schackenborg Castle (gatekeeper’s cottage) in Tønder, southern Denmark, c. 1910Red Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii') at the entrance to a barracks in Odense on the island of Funen / southern Denmark, c. 1910Probably a very old vine, growing over the corner of the house, at the old school in Trönse, southern Denmark, c. 1950Probably a very old vine at the old school; here is an earlier photograph of the one shown above. Trönse / Southern Denmark, c. 1910A house completely covered in greenery, presumably with ivy (Hedera helix), a low-rise building without a gable (a holiday home) on the beach at Telde in southern Denmark, c. 1940A wooden trellis covered in unidentifiable vegetation at a stately farmstead in Taulov, southern Denmark, c. 1910Various plants; in the centre of the picture at the back, presumably ivy (Hedera helix), in the courtyard of the school for the deaf and dumb in Fredericia, southern Denmark, c. 1910  Planting work prior to summer pruning on various wooden trellises at a villa in Haraldsholm, southern Denmark, c. 1910Gable greening (plants unidentified) on a low wooden trellis at an old farmstead in Odense on the island of Funen / southern Denmark, c. 1910A wall covered in Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) at the old Bödkerhof in Horsens, southern Denmark, c. 1960A self-climbing plant, such as ivy (Hedera helix) or Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii'), growing at the College of Physical Education in Ollerup, southern Denmark, c. 1940The station administration building in Padborg, southern Denmark, covered almost entirely in greenery, presumably ivy (Hedera helix), c. 1940A lush, self-climbing plant in the conservatory of a villa in Kokkedal (Fredensborg municipality) / Southern Denmark, c. 1950Presumably grapevines (Vitis) in the centre at the back, and probably climbing roses (Rosa) in the foreground on the right, in the narrow “Clausens Hof” in Ribe, southern Denmark, c. 1910A fruit tree trained on a trellis, probably a pear tree, at the rear right of an old monastery in Ribe, southern Denmark, c. 1930Various wooden trellises with moderate vegetation at Brundlund Castle, Aabenraa seaside resort / Southern Denmark, c. 1930A house covered in greenery with old vines (?) under a blanket of snow in winter in Fredericia, southern Denmark, c. 1930A house entirely covered in ivy (Hedera helix) in Süderhaff (Flensburger Föhrde) / Southern Denmark, c. 1920Red vine or three-lobed wild vine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii') growing on a wall at a pharmacy in Vestergade, southern Denmark, c. 1950House with a fruit tree trained on a trellis, possibly a cherry tree, in Ribe, southern Denmark, c. 1905A wall trellis in a chequerboard pattern, presumably with grapevines (Vitis), at a stately home in Middelfart, southern Denmark, c. 1910To the left of the door, presumably grapevines (Vitis); to the right of the door, presumably a ornamental vine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii') at a vicarage in Eiby, southern Denmark, c. 1940A green façade, probably featuring an old vine, in Middelfart, southern Denmark, c. 1930 Possibly a grapevine (see previous photo) at the student hall of residence in Middelfart, southern Denmark, c. 1930To the right of the garage door, presumably a rose on a narrow trellis, and at Brundlund Castle, a raised trellis, likely covered in wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) in Aabenraa / Southern Denmark, c. 1950The same view as in the previous picture, but from an earlier period. Here, with tall, scruffy vegetation; presumably also a wisteria at Brundlund Castle. Aabenraa / Southern Denmark, c. 1940Presumably a vine trellis with table grapes on the gable of a farmhouse in Kolstrup, southern Denmark, c. 1910Possibly three-lobed Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) at the care home in Middelfart, southern Denmark, c. 1960"Chessboard motif" on the gable of a house in Aabenraa / Southern Denmark, c. 1930On the right, by the gable, presumably a large espalier fruit tree, possibly a pear tree, at a farmhouse / Southern Denmark, c. 1900

Midtjylland

House with espalier fruit tree, possibly a pear tree, probably in Fjaltring or Ferring / Central JutlandA self-climbing plant (presumably Virginia creeper; Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii') on the gable of a house in Tøjhushaven Park near Randers / Central Jutland, c. 1910Possibly climbing roses (Rosa) on a trellis at the church in Hesselager / Central Jutland, c. 1910A wooden trellis in a traditional style against the backdrop of a house near Viborg in Central Jutland, c. 1910Small trellis on the right side of a thatched house at the Provincial Exhibition in Aarhus / Central Jutland, c. 1910In the foreground on the left, a wooden trellis in a courtyard in Viborg, Central Jutland, c. 1920Massive ladder-shaped vine trellises at the Jutland Agricultural and Domestic Science School in the village of Borris / Central Jutland, c. 1910Well-maintained wall covering, probably with ivy (Hedera helix), at a manor house in Möllerup, Central Jutland, c. 1910Probably ivy (Hedera helix) on an administrative building in the port city of Horsens / Central Jutland, c. 1950

Nordjylland

Large wooden trellises to the right and left of the entrance, with an arched metal trellis in between, at a villa in Aalborg, North Jutland, c. 1910In the foreground, hops (Humulus lupulus) growing on a low-rise house in Skagen, North Jutland, c. 1940On the left side of the arbour, presumably ivy (Hedera helix); on the right side of the arbour, there is hardly any vegetation on the wooden trellis in the park by the spring in Aalborg, North Jutland, c. 1910A wall entirely covered in ivy (Hedera helix) at a doctor’s residence in the village of Ferritslev, North Jutland, c. 1910Wooden trellis, presumably with a house tree and vines, in a market square / North Jutland, c. 1910On the left, presumably a small espalier fruit tree (thick trunk); in the centre and on the right, probably grapevines in Rörbaek / North Jutland, c. 1910Five-leaved Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) on Vogelgesangstraße in Mariager, North Jutland, c. 1910

Sjaelland

A wooden scaffolding frame on a brick building in Gandlose / Seeland, c. 1910A farmhouse covered in Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii') / Zealand, c. 1920Judging by their growth habit, these are old grapevines (Vitis) at the school in Karleby, Zealand, circa 1920Probably Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and ivy (Hedera helix) at the monastery in Roskilde, Zealand, c. 1930Hollyhocks or mallows in Vestergade, Stubbeköbing / Zealand, c. 1940Ivy (Hedera helix) at the monastery in Ringsted / Zealand, c. 1910Presumably grapevines (Vitis) in the centre of the picture at Villa Marina in Nysted, Zealand, c. 1920Manor house in Nyköbing; in the centre, presumably ivy (Hedera helix); on the left and right, probably vines on a tall trellis / Zealand, c. 1950Vines growing on a house before summer pruning, apparently Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), on a wooden trellis in a leasehold garden in Liselund on the island of Mön / Zealand, c. 1920The sanatorium near Nakkebölle with a wooden trellis / Zealand, c. 1910A green façade featuring Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) on a house in Strandegaard, Zealand, c. 1910Various types of vegetation; probably ivy (Hedera helix) at the back; at the monastery in Roskilde, Zealand, c. 1920Winter scene with a small trellis in Gottesgabe / Seeland, c. 1910On the left, grapevines (Vitis); in the centre, wisteria (Wisteria); on the right, a red vine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) on a small cottage in Hvalsö, Zealand, c. 1940 Very old ivy (Hedera helix) at the castle in Aalholm / Zealand, c. 1930

Hovedstaden

Judging by their growth habit, the plants growing on the trellis are probably grapevines (Vitis) at the Commercial School in Vallerod / Capital Region, c. 1920Various small vine trellises, the front door framed by a trellis, at a detached house / Greater London area, c. 1920Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) in a courtyard on the small beach road in Copenhagen / Capital Region, c. 1930Old trellises with vines at a terraced house near Copenhagen / Capital Region, c. 1910Garden shed with Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) in Copenhagen / Capital Region, c. 1910House with grapevines (Vitis vinifera) in Copenhagen / Capital Region, c. 1910Various climbing plants; on the left, the large-leaved aristolochia (Aristolochia macrophylla) in the spa town of Solbad Sölleröd / Capital Region, c. 1910A wooden trellis, covered with vines at the front, at a villa in Humlebaek / Capital Region, c. 1940Ivy (Hedera helix) is probably growing on this building, a pharmacy in Helsingør / Capital Region, c. 1930Winter scene: What appears to be Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) on the trellis, with ivy (Hedera helix) near the door / Greater London area, c. 1910