Vilhelm Theodor Walther


Vilhelm Theodor Walther was a Danish architect and Royal Building Inspector for Jutland. He was born in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark and died in Aarhus. He was twice awarded the Academy's Neuhausen Prize for excellence in architecture and in 1885, he received the Cross of Honor of the Order of the Dannebrog. Walther completed a considerable amount of restoration work on the cathedral and St Paul's Church in Aarhus and designed a number of churches in the area. Walther died in Aarhus in 1892 of cholera.

Biography

After his confirmation, from 1843 he studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen under Gustav Friedrich Hetsch, winning the Grand Silver Medal in 1845 and, for his parliamentary building and courthouse, the Grand Gold Medal in 1857. He was also awarded the Neuhausen Prize on two occasions. In parallel with his studies, Walther supervised the construction of buildings in Norway, Hamburg and Altona, as well as designing various manor houses and the headquarters of the Silkeborg Paper Mill. Following short journeys to Germany and Holland, he made an extended trip to Germany, France and Italy on the Academy's major scholarship. On his return, he was appointed Royal Building Inspector for Jutland, residing in Aarhus. There he accomplished a significant amount of work, restoring the interiors of the Church of Our Lady and the cathedral. He also designed the Aarhus Art Museum and a number of private residences.
St Paul's Church in Aarhus is partly built to his designs. He also designed churches in Aaby, Holme and Skjørring, and restored St Martin's Church, Næstved, 1857–59, the exterior of St Martin's Church, Randers, Thorsager Church, and the church in Grenaa. Other works included customs houses in Randers, Nykøbing Mors, Thisted, Hals and Als Odde, postal buildings in Brønderslev and Nykøbing, and a grammar school in Aalborg.

Assessment and awards

Walther was not particularly original but he was a competent, tasteful architect whose works displayed respect and seriousness. He was a titular professor in 1868, was awarded the Dannebrog in 1878, the Dannebrog Cross of Honor in 1885, and was elevated to Counsellor in 1892.

Works

The buildings Walther designed include:
His restoration work includes: