The Egg Chair

From the 1950s onwards Jacobsen became one of the dominant figures in Danish architecture, but outside of Denmark he made his large inroads in his work as a furniture and product designer. As well as the Swan, Egg and the Series 7 chairs, he was also responsible for another 20th century classic, the Cylinda Line stainless steel set and the AJ flatware.

Arne Jacobsen initially was trained as a mason deciding to study architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Arts, Copenhagen eventually graduating from there in 1927.  From his graduation until 1930, he worked in the architectural office of Paul Holsoe. He then decided to establish his own design office, and continue to operate until he died in 1971.

He was also a professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1956 in Copenhagen. Some of his better known projects are St. Catherine´s College in Oxford, and the SAS Hotel located in Copenhagen.

Here is a chornological list of his built work:

Bellevue Theatre (1935-36)

Århus City Hall (1939-42)

Søllerød Town Hall (1940-42)

Søholm semi-detached houses in Klampenborg (1950-54)

Rødovre Town Hall (1957)

Glostrup Town Hall (1958)

The Munkegård School in Copenhagen (1955-59)

SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen (1958-1960)

Toms Chocolate Factories in Ballerup (1961)

Danmarks National bank (started in 1965)

St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford (1964-66)

Hamburger Elektrizitaetswerke Verwaltungsgebaeude in Hamburg

Arne Jacobsen reflected on his career, a few Months before his death in 1971, "The fundamental factor is proportion," he concluded. "Proportion is precisely what makes the old Greek temples beautiful…And when we look at some of the most admired buildings of the Renaissance or the Baroque, we notice that they are all well-proportioned. That is the essential thing." Here is a quick gallery of Arne Jacobsen work.

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