DesignerDeco

Arne Jacobsen

Posted on 17. Feb, 2009 by DesignerDeco in Modern Furniture Designers

Danish modernism gained worldwide fanfare in the 1960s, thanks to a visionary architect and industrial designer named Arne Jacobsen. Perpetuating a style that combines Nordic naturalism with modernism’s sensibilities, Jacobsen crafted structures and pieces of furniture that became cult classics in the world of structural design.

The personal life of Arne Jacobsen

Arne Jacobsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in February 11, 1902. He had very humble beginnings, similar to other luminaries of the structural and interior designing industry, as he started out as a bricklayer. In a stroke of good luck, Jacobsen won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of the Arts in 1924. By 1925, Jacobsen entered a competition held in Paris and won a silver medal for a chair that he designed. Jacobsen’s humble origins actually worked to his advantage. His knowledge of different materials gave him the courage and the clout to experiment and use these in his designs, most of which have gone on to become renowned pieces up to now.

The design ethics of Arne Jacobsen

Jacobsen believed that everything should be in harmony, and he employed this principle in all of his works. From architectural projects to cutlery, Jacobsen built his masterpieces with the utmost attention to detail. The 1950s also opened Jacobsen’s eyes to newer styles and designs, specifically by American furniture designers Charles and Ray Eames. His wife Joanna, a textile and fabric designer herself, was also a great influence in his works.

Popular pieces Arne Jacobsen

Jacobsen was a talented designer who dabbled in different fields. But despite the differences that each field possesses, Jacobsen managed to excel in each. His works have gone on to be treasured legacies in each field of interest.

Infrastructure by Arne Jacobsen

Jacobsen started out designing private homes after he graduated from the Royal Academy. As his popularity grew, he was commissioned to do bigger and more prominent projects such as the rebuilding of housing and public buildings in Denmark after the war. One of his more famous commissions was the construction and design of the St. Catherine’s College in Oxford University. Here, he poured all his signature attention to detail, obsessing even on the slightest points such as the combination of fish in the ponds.

Furniture pieces by Arne Jacobsen

Furniture design was also one of the areas that Jacobsen was well known for. The Ant, the Egg, and the Swan chairs were among his famous furniture pieces made out of meticulous research and exemplary design.

Tableware by Arne Jacobsen

Jacobsen also dabbled in designing tableware with the Cylinda stainless steel cocktail set. Another tableware exploit of his that gained popularity was the futuristic flatware used by Stanley Kubrick in his film, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

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