17 Arne Jacobsen Designs We Love
We’re celebrating the birthday of the iconic designer and architect by looking back at some of his best work.
Text by
Arne Jacobsen was born on February 11, 1902 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and became one of the country’s preeminent architects and designers in the mid-20th century. Though he went on to design the SAS Royal Hotel and the Danish National Bank, Jacobsen’s touch remained in the private realm as well, as he designed lighting fixtures for Danish manufacturer Louis Poulsen and furniture for Fritz Hansen.
Arne Jacobsen's indispensable contributions to midcentury architecture and design continue to inspire us. Here are some of our favorite designs that highlight and honor his legacy.
Along with the birth of the Swan chair, Swan sofa, and Series 3300, Arne Jacobsen also created the Egg chair for the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.
The AJ lamp collection was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1960 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen (Radisson Blu). As a major contribution to the total design concept of the hotel, the AJ lamps have achieved iconic design status.
Designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which designer Arne Jacobsen was the architect, the Swan Chair (1958) permitted guests to spin on its swivel base, thus becoming active participants in the busy hotel atmosphere.
Designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, the AJ Floor Lamp from Louis Poulsen modern classic features an asymmetrical shape and tiltable head. The sleek, understated design ensures this floor lamp can complement many different established motifs.
The Banker's Wall Clock (1971) was originally created by Arne Jacobsen for the Danish National Bank in Copenhagen. A 12-square line marks each hour position, with the square closest to the clock’s center filled-in starting at 1, the next at 2 and so on, creating a subtle spiral pattern.
Like the iconic Egg™ and Swan™, Pot (1959) was originally designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which Jacobsen was the architect.
Originally sketched on a napkin in 1964, Arne Jacobsen’s Cylinda Line (1967) stainless steel barware took three years, and the creation of new technology, to produce.
When the legendary Danish designer Arne Jacobsen was commissioned to develop the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1958, he ended up designing almost every aspect of the hotel.
Originally sketched on a napkin in 1964, Arne Jacobsen’s Cylinda Line (1967) stainless steel barware took three years, and the creation of new technology, to produce.
Arne Jacobsen helped shape design history when he accommodated three different bends in one piece of plywood, simply by narrowing the center. The resulting Ant Chair (1952) has a back with a gentle give and comfortable curved seat.
Developed by Arne Jacobsen in the 1950s, around the same time he was designing the iconic Ant Chair, his Dot Stool (1954) resulted from the same rigorous level of testing and refinement. Originally designed with three legs, Dot was changed in 1970 to have four.
Born and raised in Copenhagen, Arne Jacobsen graduated in 1927 with a degree in architecture from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Inspired by the likes of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, Jacobsen embraced a functionalist approach from the outset.
The Series 7 Chair (1955) debuted in Sweden at the Helsingborg exhibition of 1955, or H55. One of the most copied chairs of the modern era, it features an ideal shape for the human form, with a back that offers just the right amount of give to keep your upper body comfortable and a waterfall...
Arne Jacobsen conceived of a complete and holistic aesthetic for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Serving as the principle architect for it, he also created much of the furnishings – including the Series 3300 Collection (1956).
While he was arguably better known for his furniture designs, just about everything Arne Jacobsen created has surpassed icon status.
Designed by midcentury Danish master Arne Jacobsen, Grand Prix (1957) didn’t just win the most prestigious award at the Triennale di Milano – it was named for it. Originally introduced at the Danish Museum of Art and Design in 1957, it was displayed later that year in Milan, where it took both the...
We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Related Reading:
Published
Last Updated
Get the Shop Newsletter
Smart shopping for the design obsessed. Find what you love in our expertly curated selection of finely crafted home, office, travel, and lifestyle products.