Profile | Arne Jacobsen

"If architecture had nothing to do with art, it would be astonishingly easy to build houses, but the architect's task - his most difficult task - is always that of selecting."

- Arne Jacobsen

Today marks the anniversary of Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen, a central figure in the development of Scandinavian modernism and one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century. Jacobsen’s practice moved fluently between scales, from landmark architectural commissions, such as the National Bank of Denmark in Copenhagen and St Catherine’s College, Oxford, to the intimate precision of everyday objects, including cutlery, clocks, textiles, and furniture.

Jacobsen began his career in 1927 in collaboration with Flemming Larsen, when the pair won a competition organised by the Federation of Danish Architects for their proposal, The House of the Future. The project, radical in both form and concept, was realised two years later at the Architects’ Building and Housing Exhibition at the Forum in Copenhagen, announcing Jacobsen as a leading voice in the emerging modern movement.

Throughout his career, Jacobsen approached design as a total work, creating furniture and objects specifically for architectural contexts. Many of these designs, however, transcended their original settings to become enduring icons of modern design. Chairs such as the Ant, Egg, and Swan exemplify his ability to combine structural clarity with sculptural softness, balancing rational construction with organic form.

Jacobsen’s work softened the austerity of early modernism, introducing warmth through material choice, curvature, and human scale. His legacy lies not only in the elegance of his designs but in his disciplined act of selection, shaping environments where architecture, furniture, and objects exist in quiet, cohesive dialogue.

Discover the designs of Arne Jacobsen here.