Arne Jacobsen

Arne Jacobsen – Danish Architect and Modern Furniture Designer

Arne Jacobsen 1902-71 – Denmark

Arne Jacobsen was born in Copenhagen in 1902.

He was a trained Mason before he commenced his Architecture studies at The Royal Danish Academy of Arts in Copenhagen.

From his graduation in 1927 to 1930 he worked with Paul Holsoe in his architectural practice.

Egg Chair 3316 - Arne Jacobsen

Gaining valuable experience, from there he then set up his own practice in 1930 which he ran until he died in 1971.

Though out this period he also worked in numerous artistic fields, from architecture, interiors, furniture, ceramics and textile design.

His most well know achievements are the SAS Hotel in Copenhagen and St. Catherine’s College in Oxford.

From 1956 he also managed to squeeze in being a professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts, sharing his valuable knowledge with others of traditional Scandinavian design.

Jacobsen had a functionalist approach to design, and was one of the first designers to introduce modernist ideas and philosophies into Denmark.

His most famous work was the Swan and Egg chairs which were designed for the Royal Hotel. This project entailed him designing everything to great detail, from furniture and fabrics to cutlery and lighting.

His furniture is mainly made from molded plywood bent into organic shapes. He was inspired by Charles Eames and in 1951 he created the classic Ant chair, which sold millions. This chair had a three legged continuous molded plywood back and seat and tubular steel legs.

The traditional Scandinavian design combined with sculptural shapes depicts Jacobsen’s work as timeless and is still very popular today.

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