Johan Albrecht Ehrenström

Johan Albrecht Ehrenström (28 August 1762 – 15 April 1847) was a notable Finnish politician and official who is best remembered as the designer of Helsinki city plan.[1][2]

Johan Albrecht Ehrenström
Portrait by Johan Erik Lindh, 1839
Born(1762-08-28)28 August 1762
Helsinki, Sweden (now Finland)
Died15 April 1847(1847-04-15) (aged 84)
Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
NationalityFinnish

Biography

Ehrenström was a resident of what would later become Finland, in the eastern parts of the Swedish Kingdom. Following the Swedish defeat in the Finnish War in 1809, the region became a part of the Russian Empire, and the city of Helsinki was promoted to be the new capital of the new Grand Duchy of Finland. Ehrenström was selected to be the chairman of the committee in charge of rebuilding the city of Helsinki after a fire that destroyed many of its old wooden structures in 1808.[1]

In contrast to the old medieval-style city plan with narrow and winding alleys, Ehrenström's vision for Helsinki was one of wide streets placed on a geometric grid in the fashion of the cities of ancient Greece. This plan was eventually approved by Tsar Alexander I of Russia, Grand Duke of Finland, and the city redesigned, led by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel. After the city of Oulu was devastated by fire in 1822, Ehrenström was tasked with drawing a new plan for it. This was finished in 1824 and ratified by the Tsar the following year.[3]

References
  1. Tyynilä, Markku (6 September 2001). "Ehrenström, Johan Albrecht (1762 - 1847)". Kansallisbiografia. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  2. Pohjanpalo, Olli (30 July 1994). "Päivälleen 200 vuotta sitten 1794 Johan Albrecht Ehrenström tuomittiin kuolemaan Kahdeksantoista vuotta myöhemmin 1812 hän kaavoitti Helsingin ydinkeskustan Mestauspölkyltä Helsingin kaavoittajaksi". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  3. Kustaa Hautala: Oulun kaupungin historia III, s. 22–34. Kirjapaino Oy Kaleva, 1975. 951-9327-00-2

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