Design Icons – Arne Jacobsen

by Redazione

Born in Copenhagen on February 11, 1902, Arne Jacobsen is one of the most renowned Danish architects and designers in the world. After graduating in architecture from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, he opened his own studio in 1930, where he worked until his death in 1971, leaving a significant mark in multiple fields and shaping the aesthetics of organic design.

He became famous for his chair designs, starting with the Ant Chair in 1951, created for the canteen of a Danish pharmaceutical company, which marked his international recognition as a designer. The Ant Chair, featuring a lightweight structure with three or later four metal legs and a curved plywood shell, borrowed the technique from the American designer Charles Eames but retained a distinctly Scandinavian character. The chair is still manufactured today by Fritz Hansen, a Danish company with which Jacobsen established a fruitful relationship after World War II.

ANT CHAIR, 1951, Republic of Fritz Hansen – credits: Republic of Fritz Hansen

The iconic Series 7, introduced in 1955 and considered an evolution of the Ant Chair, is by far the best-selling chair in Fritz Hansen’s history and one of the most popular design objects worldwide. With its refined formal simplicity, it represents the pinnacle of plywood bending technique to achieve a continuous and perfectly shaped shell. This chair has undergone various iterations over the years and is suitable for any environment, from home kitchens and dining rooms to conference halls, cafes, and workplaces.

SERIES 7, 1955, Republic of Fritz Hansen – credits: Republic of Fritz Hansen

As seen in the case of the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Jacobsen initially designed his objects specifically for particular architectural projects, which were later mass-produced. For the Royal Hotel, considered one of his most important architectural projects, he designed every detail, including fabrics, lamps, cutlery, furniture, and even door handles.

ROYAL HOTEL COPENHAGEN – credits: Rickard L. Eriksson

Among his notable designs are the AJ Lamp, designed in 1957 and produced by Louis Poulsen, which combines timeless design with excellent lighting, and the AJ stainless steel cutlery set produced by Georg Jensen. Elegant, essential, and timeless, these cutlery pieces were dubbed “unadorned” and even sparked controversy for being considered too simple.

AJ LAMP, 1957 by Louis Poulsen, AJ CUTLERY, 1957 by Georg Jensen

His famous Swan and Egg chairs were also created for the Royal Hotel. The Swan Chair, designed specifically for the hotel’s lounge areas, is formally and technologically innovative, featuring a fiberglass shell padded with foam and upholstered in fabric or leather of various colors, with an aluminum base. Characterized by soft curves and a embracing profile, it is perfect for any setting.

SWAN CHAIR, 1958, Republic of Fritz Hansen – credits: Republic of Fritz Hansen

The Egg Lounge Chair from 1958 shares the same language as the Swan, with its high backrest creating a protective shell that provides a sense of privacy. Still in production after sixty years, it demonstrates that Jacobsen’s timeless style endures over time.

EGG LONGUE CHAIR, 1958, Republic of Fritz Hansen – credits: Republic of Fritz Hansen

In the 1960s, Jacobsen explored office furniture design, creating the Oxford Chair. The original version was designed for the professors of St Catherine’s College, Oxford, symbolizing prestige and social status with its elegant silhouette and high backrest. Later versions were produced with or without armrests and with adjustable or fixed heights, and in 2016, Fritz Hansen reintroduced it as the Oxford Premium. offering increased comfort and updated dimensions for the backrest, along with a more elegant and contemporary color range.

OXFORD PREMIUM ARMCHAIR, 2016 reissue by Republic of Fritz Hansen – credits: Republic of Fritz Hansen

A few years before his death, Jacobsen designed the Cylinda tableware collection, which became a true classic and a synonym of Scandinavian refinement. Originally consisting of 15 pieces, it was officially launched in 1967 after three years of intense development to achieve the desired result with stainless steel.

Coffee pots, teapots, ice buckets, and ashtrays feature clean lines, cylindrical shapes, and instantly recognizable handles. To celebrate the collection’s fiftieth anniversary in 2017, the Danish company Stelton reintroduced key products in an enameled version in pastel blue, aqua green, gray, and pink hues.

CYLINDA, 1967 original stainless steel version by Stelton – credits: Stelton