Design stories
Danish Modernism - Arne Jacobsen
An introduction to Arne Jacobsen by Carsten Thau and Kjeld Vindum (from the Design from Denmark edition, published by World Pictures in 2005 - sold out)
Arne Jacobsen was not only one of the most talented Danish architects of the 20th century. With 350 works to his name, he was also one of the most productive. Along with his friends and colleagues Alvar Aalto, G. E. Asplund and Jørn Utzon, he became one of the leading figures of a Scandinavian movement that had an unequivocal impact on contemporary design and architecture. Best known internationally for his furniture and industrial design, he created - within the idiom of the so-called functional tradition, the white modernism of the 1920s' as well as the International Style - outstanding buildings designed for a wide variety of functions ranging from town halls, housing and schools to theatres and hotels. He had an amazing breadth of scope and a productive period lasting more than half a century. Nonetheless, it is possible to pinpoint distinctive values in his work that derive from a unique combination of elegant, yet robust design, a highly sensitive choice of materials that never lapses into sentimentalism, and an ability to manage every detail of texture, structure and colour in pursuit of the ultimate in aesthetic and functional control. Last but not least, his works represent a triumph of cosmopolitan vitality that does not completely overshadow their quintessential local identity.
An important reason for the worldwide success of Danish Modernism was the use of natural materials coupled with the robust nature of the products. Scandinavian products often originate in traditional crafts such as glass, ceramics and exquisite handmade furniture. Internationally, the use of materials like leather, wood and woven textiles has become broadly synonymous with originality and authenticity. By successfully combining fundamentally industrial features with high quality craftsmanship, Arne Jacobsen played a central role in carrying past traditions into modernity.
Like many other Scandinavians, Arne Jacobsen coupled a flair for the simplicity of anonymous everyday articles in popular culture with the geometric precision that is the goal of modern design. His works unite formal elegance, economic use of materials and lightness, as typified by his superlative designs for the staircase at Rødovre Town Hall and Danmarks Nationalbank (The Central Bank of Denmark), both examples of trapeze artistry and modern weightlessness. The ultra-slim steel frame of his stackable chairs, 'The Ant' and the '7' series for example, poses the ultimate demand on the properties of the metal construction. The torso-shaped outline and the continuity of chair seat and back are a triumph of design and technique, while the steel frame nonchalantly supports the laminated chair shells in a way underscored by the discreet comfort of the flexible chair back. Similarly, Arne Jacobsen's easy chairs The Swan and The Egg fuel our imaginations while their distinct profile integrates back, seat and armrest in one fluid movement. Jacobsen's design icons and revolutionary creations include examples of geometric simplicity such as the Vola tap unit, AJ cutlery and Cylinda Line, all of which reveal his urge to combine the qualities of standard industrial products with the self-awareness of the exclusive luxury articles of by-gone eras.
Several of Jacobsen's design pieces exemplify the prestige and exquisite craftsmanship that the avant-garde movement dreamt of achieving in the early 20th century. His furniture and other works are also universal in that they naturally complement a variety of settings - private homes, hotels and office environments alike.
Jacobsen gained considerable influence, and in recent decades some of his stackable chair designs have ranked among the most popular pieces of designer furniture in the world. The quality and scope of his work placed him at the indisputable core of contemporary Danish design.
