A Brief Building History of Hafslund's Main Building
Before the fire of 1758, Hafslund was arranged as a four-winged complex enclosing a central courtyard. When the estate was rebuilt after the fire, the surviving stone walls formed the foundation for the new structure. The southern wing, likely the most severely damaged, was entirely demolished, while the remaining wings were extended and reshaped. As a result, the cohesive Rococo residence completed in 1761 still incorporates much older elements within its structure.
The original four wings were built by different owners over an extended period. Unfortunately, most written sources concerning Hafslund’s early buildings have been lost. Thanks to its striking location beside the powerful Sarpsfossen waterfall, however, Hafslund became a favoured subject for landscape painters. These dated depictions have made it possible to piece together important aspects of the estate’s architectural history.
The East Wing, built by Otte Bildt around 1600
The eastern wing, constructed entirely of rough-hewn stone, is the oldest part of the present building. Only the vaulted cellar was built in brick. This wing was erected by the nobleman Otte Bildt as the first stone structure on the estate.
The West Wing, built by Otte Bildt in 1608
The western wing is built in yellow brick, resting on a base of rough-hewn stone. It was constructed around 1608 by the nobleman Otte Bildt and Inger Jespersdatter, at the time when Hafslund was granted its status as a noble estate.
The South Wing, built by Daniel Bildt between 1655 and 1664
The southern wing featured a vaulted gateway leading into the courtyard, as well as a stair tower, and was built in rendered stone with gables in brick. Measuring approximately 44 by 31 metres, with a width of 10 metres, it was remarkable in scale for its time. The most likely patron was the war commissioner Daniel Ottesen Bildt, who took over the estate in 1624 and died in 1664. The construction is thought to be connected to his second marriage to Birgitte Bjelke, daughter of Norway’s Chancellor Jens Bjelke.
The North Wing, built by Niels Werenskiold of Hafslund between 1701 and 1726
The northern wing combines elements from different periods, with older yellow brick rising to around two metres, and red brick above from the reconstruction following the fire of 1758. The building is believed to have been erected after Werenskiold’s ennoblement and his marriage to Elisabeth de Tonsberg, and was likely completed in time for one of the royal visits, either in 1704 or 1733. It featured a high principal floor above an elevated cellar, with a lower second storey above.
The entire square complex rebuilt by Karen Werenskiold and Hartvig Huitfeldt after 1741
The tower was later removed, and the four wings were unified beneath a single hipped roof. Niels Werenskiold passed away in 1741, and in 1749 King Frederik V visited Hafslund during his royal journey. In 1754, Karen de Werenskiold Huitfeldt sold the estate to Elieson.
Fire in 1758 – reconstruction
Main Building, Peter and Anna Elieson in 1761–1762
Anna Collett and Peter Elieson owned Hafslund for only a few years before the main building was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1758. By 1762, the residence had been rebuilt as a three-winged structure in a unified Rococo style, with a mansard roof and walls of brick and whitewashed masonry. Traces of earlier builders were, however, deliberately preserved. Stones carved with the initials of Bildt (B) and Niels Werenskiold (NV) were set into the façades of the western and eastern wings, though their placement offers little clue as to who built which part.
The architect is believed to have been Anna Collett’s brother, who is also credited with designing Bogstad in Sørkedalen, Oslo. Anna herself is depicted in a small watercolour holding drawings of Hafslund, and may well have played a role in shaping the design in her own way.
Both then and now, the main house stands as one of Norway’s most distinguished late Baroque manor residences. The pediment, bearing the coats of arms of the Collett and Elieson families, is carved in sandstone from Gotland and was crafted in Copenhagen by some of the leading sculptors of the time.
The entrance door remains original from the time of construction. The building was fitted with small-paned, four-light windows with a central transom. While the interior has been carefully preserved, only a limited amount of the original furnishings remains today.
Unrealised renovation from 1794, designed by architect Joseph Chr. Lillie.
This redesign was planned when Ole Christopher Wessel and Maren Juel repurchased Hafslund with the intention of residing there, but the plans were abandoned following Wessel’s death in 1794.
The Pavilions
Both pavilions were constructed at the time when the main house was completed in 1761–62. They appear to have served as the steward’s residence, at least from 1801 during the Rosenkrantz era, and throughout the century until the waterfall was developed for electricity production in the 1890s.
