Svend Aspaas

Svend Halvorsen Aspaas (1736–January 1816) was a Norwegian architect and builder who is known for several of the churches he built. He was also a master builder for the Røros Copper Works. He is credited as having invented and built a type of pumping station for mines. He was also known for building many bridges and dams.

Svend Aspaas was born on the Aspaas farm in the parish of Ålen (now part of Holtålen Municipality in Trøndelag county). He moved to the nearby mining town of Røros when he was young and he worked at the copperworks there. As a 17-year-old, he apprenticed as a blacksmith and later he was promoted and became a master at his trade. He was sent to Kongsberg in 1769 to receive further training in mining. In 1784, he went to the Falun Mine where he learned the use of slag stone as a building material.