Lecture on Danish Design and Modern Scandinavian Furniture

Overview of Danish Furniture Design

• Denmark is the smallest Scandinavian country, unlike Sweden or Finland, lacks extensive forests.
• Relies on imported wood, especially teak, for furniture manufacturing.
• Danish modern furniture is notable in the U.S. for its combination of traditional wood use and modern, simplified design.
  • Focus on sculptural form and warm, inviting qualities.

Hans Wegner: Father of Modern Danish Design

• Skilled carpenter and cabinet maker, respected the use of wood.
• Developed iconic designs such as "The Chair".
  • Simple form, sculptural design.
  • Famous joinery and use of natural materials, like woven seats.
  • Variations include upholstery and interpretations of designs like the Windsor and Chinese chairs (e.g., Peacock and Wishbone chairs).
  • Designs such as the Ox and Hoop chairs display humor and functionality.

Arne Jacobsen: Modern Material Innovator

• Known for experimenting with plywood and bent metal.
• Designs emphasize minimalism and functionality, e.g., drop leaf table and flatware.
• Developed chairs with wire legs using thin plywood.
• Designed the Royal SAS Hotel in Copenhagen (1959).
  • International Style building with curtain wall and horizontal slab base.
  • Designed interiors focusing on lighting and seating arrangements.
  • Iconic designs include Egg, Swan, and teardrop chairs.

Greta Yalk and Verner Panton: Pioneers of Modern Design

• Greta Yalk: Bent plywood chairs aimed to create elegant and sculptural forms.
  • Respected materials while stretching them to boundaries.
• Verner Panton: Focused on color and innovative furniture design.
  • Created interactive exhibitions (e.g., color temperature experience).
  • Designed "living tower" furniture encouraging interaction.
  • Developed Panton side chair using advancements in molded plastic.
  • Explored Op Art in interiors with optical illusion designs.

Poul Henningsen: Lighting Design

• Developed lamps focusing on diffusing light using nature-inspired forms.
  • Artichoke lamp: layers of material reflect light elegantly.

Swedish Furniture Design

• Bruno Mathsson: Reflected modern design in wood, used bent wood for ergonomic seating.
  • Designed practical furniture, e.g., space-saving table.
  • Inspired by American Mid-century architecture.

Josef Frank: Textile and Furniture Designer

• Austrian immigrant to Sweden, successful in bold textile design.
  • Saturated colors and oversized prints influenced by Wiener Werkstätte.
  • Furniture designs reflect classical influences with modern asymmetry.

Key Themes

• Scandinavian furniture design combines functionality, simplicity, and a strong connection to natural materials.
• Emphasizes minimalism and modern materials while maintaining warmth and inviting qualities.

These notes encapsulate key points from the lecture on Danish and Scandinavian design, focusing on notable designers and the evolution of modern furniture aesthetics.