About
Lifespan: 1902–1971
Birthplace: Copenhagen
Manufacturers: Fritz Hansen, Louis Poulsen, Stelton, VOLA, Carl Hansen & Søn, &Tradition, Sika Design, Rosendahl
Story
Arne Emil Jacobsen (1902–1971) was one of twentieth-century Denmark’s leading architects and designers. His work extended from architecture and furniture to lighting, textiles, clocks, and cutlery, with buildings and interiors conceived as integrated wholes. The Ant Chair, Series 7, Egg, and Swan all emerged from this broad architectural practice.
Jacobsen initially wanted to become a painter, but entered the architecture program at the Royal Danish Academy in 1924. As a student he encountered both European classical architecture and emerging modernism. In 1929, together with Flemming Lassen, he attracted attention with the “House of the Future” and opened his own office in the same year.
During the 1930s Jacobsen designed Bellevue Beach, the Bellavista housing complex, and Bellevue Theatre. While using white surfaces and clear geometry, he also designed furniture, lighting, signage, and surrounding landscapes. In Aarhus City Hall and Søllerød Town Hall, completed in 1942, he coordinated interiors in wood, leather, brass, and other materials down to the smallest detail.
In the 1950s, his collaboration with Fritz Hansen produced the Ant Chair and Series 7, exploiting the possibilities of molded plywood. For the SAS Royal Hotel he developed the Egg and Swan using rigid foam to create freer three-dimensional curves. Through these contrasting methods—thin laminated plywood and enveloping sculptural shells—he connected industrial production with close attention to the body.
Furniture and objects in Jacobsen’s work were never isolated from architecture. At the SAS Royal Hotel he designed the building, rooms, furniture, lighting, and cutlery as an integrated environment; at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, architecture, gardens, and furniture were developed as a single composition. In his later years he also worked on products such as Cylinda Line and VOLA fittings, using basic forms and standardization. A precise adjustment of function, material, proportion, and space runs throughout his work.
History & Works
1902 (Age 0)
Born on 11 February in Copenhagen.
1924 (Age 22)
Entered the architecture program at the Royal Danish Academy.
1925 (Age 23)
Won a silver medal for a chair design at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris.
1927 (Age 25)
Graduated from the Royal Danish Academy and began work at the Copenhagen City Architect’s Office.
1929 (Age 27)
Presented the “House of the Future” with Flemming Lassen and opened his own office.
1932 (Age 30)
Designed Bellevue Beach.
1934 (Age 32)
Completed the Bellavista housing complex.
1936 (Age 34)
Completed Bellevue Theatre.
1937 (Age 35)
Completed the Skovshoved petrol station and Stelling House.
1942 (Age 40)
Completed Aarhus City Hall with Erik Møller and Søllerød Town Hall with Flemming Lassen.
1943–1945
Because of his Jewish background, fled to Sweden with his wife Jonna. While there he designed botanical textiles and wallpapers.
1951 (Age 49)
Completed the Søholm housing development in Klampenborg and used one of the houses as his home and office.
1952 (Age 50)
Developed the Ant Chair with Fritz Hansen, joining seat and back in a single molded-plywood shell for a stackable chair.
1954 (Age 52)
Designed the Dot Stool.
1955 (Age 53)
Designed Series 7, the Munkegaard Chair, City Hall Clock, and other works.
1956 (Age 54)
Completed Rødovre Town Hall and became a professor at the Royal Danish Academy.
1957 (Age 55)
Completed Munkegaard School and designed AJ cutlery, the AJ lamp, Grand Prix Chair, and other products.
1958 (Age 56)
Designed the Egg and Swan for the SAS Royal Hotel.
1960 (Age 58)
The SAS Royal Hotel opened, integrating architecture, furniture, lighting, and tableware.
1964 (Age 62)
Completed St Catherine’s College, Oxford.
1965 (Age 63)
Designed the Oxford Chair and continued work on the National Bank of Denmark.
1966 (Age 64)
Designed the Oksen Chair.
1967 (Age 65)
Stelton introduced the Cylinda Line.
1968 (Age 66)
Designed the Lily Chair.
1969 (Age 67)
Designed VOLA taps and accessories.
1970 (Age 68)
Presented Kubeflex, a housing system built from standardized cubic modules.
1971 (Age 69)
Died on 24 March at the age of 69. The first phase of the National Bank of Denmark was completed.
1978
The National Bank of Denmark was completed by his successor office, Dissing+Weitling.
Furniture
AJ Trolley
AJ52 Society Desk
Ant Chair Model3100
Bellevue Chair
Dot Stool Model3170
Drop Chair Model3110
Egg Chair Model3316
Giraffe Chair
Grand Prix Chair Model3130 (Model4130)
Lily Chair Model3108
Model2961 Unique Table
Oksen Chair Model3201/4201
Oxford Chair Model3270
Oxford Table Lamp
Pot Chair Model3318
Seven Chair Model3107
Sofa Series 3300
Swan Chair 3320
References
Arne Jacobsen Design: Biography, Timeline, and Authorized Partners.