After a time working for the City Architect following graduation, Arne Jacobsen entered and won, with Flemming Lasson, a 1929 Danish Architect’s Association design competition with their “House of the Future. Subsequently built full-scale for the “Copenhagen’s Forum” exhibition, the visionary design effectively launched him as an independent “ultra-modern” architect.
Among Arne Jacobsen’s most well-known building designs are the Bellevue Theatre, the SAS Royal Hotel, and The Danish National Bank in Germany, completed posthumously. Although he reportedly rejected the term “designer”, Arne Jacobsen is remembered today primarily for his furniture, lamps and light fixtures. Known for his proportionality, he regarded proportion as “the main thing”.
Arne Jacobsen, a revered figure in Danish design and architecture, was born on February 11, 1902. Despite an early inclination towards painting, Jacobsen's mother encouraged him to immerse himself in the more pragmatic field of architecture. As a result, he enrolled in the Architecture School of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, a decision that would eventually shape his career trajectory.
His burgeoning talent was unveiled to the world in 1925, while still a student, when Jacobsen secured a silver medal for a chair he had meticulously designed. This award came from the prestigious Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industries Modernes, a Paris-based Art Deco fair. Here, Jacobsen discovered the influential work of Le Corbusier, whose L’Espirit Nouveau pavilion left a profound impression on the young architect.
Upon graduation, Jacobsen initially worked for the City Architect, honing his skills and knowledge before embarking on an independent career. His breakthrough came in 1929 when he, along with Flemming Lasson, triumphed in a design competition organized by the Danish Architect’s Association. Their innovative 'House of the Future' design, constructed full-scale for Copenhagen's Forum exhibition, propelled Jacobsen into the spotlight as a visionary, "ultra-modern" architect.
As his career unfolded, Jacobsen left an indelible mark on architecture with his iconic building designs. From the Bellevue Theatre to the SAS Royal Hotel, and even The Danish National Bank in Germany (completed posthumously), his work resonated with a timeless appeal.
Yet, it's worth noting that despite his architectural accomplishments, Jacobsen is most fondly remembered today for his contributions to furniture and lighting design. Although he was said to have rejected the label of "designer", his creations — distinguished by their innate proportionality, a quality he believed to be "the main thing" — speak volumes of his proficiency in design. Each piece, like Jacobsen himself, seamlessly bridged the worlds of architecture and design, merging form and function in a harmonious symphony of aesthetics.