Christian Christie

Christian Christie was a Norwegian architect who was educated at the Polytechnic School of Hannover and in Karlsruhe. He returned to Norway in 1855 and opened his own architect's office in Oslo in 1858. He was commissioned by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, and became an expert in medieval architecture. He led the restoration and preservation of several important medieval structures, such as Håkonshallen and St Mary's Church in Bergen. He also designed several churches of his own, combining Neo-Gothic and stave church styles, such as New Borgund Church. His most important work was the restoration of the Nidaros Cathedral, which he nearly completed before his death in 1906. He also chaired the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments branch in Trondheim. He was decorated as a Commander, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, and received other honors from Denmark and Prussia. He was married to Johanne Margrethe Christie, and had six children, two of whom became prominent politicians. He died of pneumonia in Trondheim in 1906.