Utzon and Aalborg

The Utzon family moved from Copenhagen to Aalborg in 1918 with their 2-year-old son Leif Utzon and newborn son Jørn Utzon, when the father, Aage Utzon, took a position as a naval engineer at Aalborg Shipyard.

In the beginning, the conditions were modest, and the family lived at Vendelbogade 8 on the corner of Strandvejen, not far from C.W. Obel´s Tobacco Factory and the Aalborg Destilleries.

In 1925, they moved to the outskirts of Aalborg, to Nørre Trandersvej 65 in Vejggaard, which had become a new suburb of Aalborg.

Jørn and Leif Utzon went to the private school Klostermarksskolen for five years, and Jørn Utzon often walked from school to Aalborg Shipyard along the harbour. Thus, Aalborg´s harbour environment served an inspiration and playground for Jørn Utzon as he grew up.

As Jørn Utzon grew older and went to grammar school at Aalborg Katedralskole, his interest in the sea and his father´s work with boat design increased. Also, Jørn Utzon had become an able yacthsman. Therefore, his early ambition was to become a naval engineer like his father: however, in 1937 he chose to attend the School of Architecture in Copenhagen. 

The same year the Utzon family moved back to Sealand because Aage Utzon was appointed head of the repair department at the Elsinore Shipyard.

Portrait of Aage Utzon
Photo: Tønnies Atalier, Aalborg Stadsarkiv

Portrait of Estrid Utzon
Photo: Tønnies Atalier, Aalborg Stadsarkiv


View from Signalbakken i Vejgård  towards Aalborg.

Photo: Tønnies Atalier, Aalborg Stadsarkiv

Harbour in Aalborg anno 1930

Photo: Aalborg Stadarkiv

Class picture from 1931, where Jørn Utzon sits in

the second row number 3 from the left. 

Photographer unknown.

Aalborg Sea Schouts. Jørn Utzon is seen in the middle
row number 4 from the right and his brother Leif in the
same row to the far right. Photographer unknown. 

Aalborg harbour seen from Utzon Center - app. 1930
(Photo: Tønnies)