Arne Jacobsen for your office

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Spring is officially here in Scandinavia, a good time to enjoy something new (or old). Warm colors, international design and clean lines are all trademarks of Danish designer and architect Arne Jacobsen. If you are in the process or remodeling or thinking about it here are some personal favorites of mine available to buy from Hivemodern.com. Enjoy!

Related posts
Arne Jacobsen

Arne Jacobsen Egg chair (1958) from hivemodern.com

Arne Jacobsen Series 3300 sofa (1958) from hivemodern.com

Arne Jacobsen Oxford chair (1963) from hivemodern.com

Arne Jacobsen

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This is the third post in my series about my favorite architects from the golden days of architecture. We are going back to Scandinavian design again, allow me to introduce Arne Jacobsen, one of the forefathers of Danish Modernism and Functionalism.

Born in Copenhagen 1902, educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen and professor at the Academy between the years 1956-65. Jacobsen was both an architect and designer, his most famous works include The Ant chair, Model 3107 chair, The Egg chair, St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen and Bellavista in Klampenborg. Personally, I have always admired the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, not only because it was Denmark's first skyscraper but for its clean design and the use of material. The hotel is located right next to the Tivoli (amusement park) and the Central Train station, which makes it a ideal place to stay if you are ever in Copenhagen.

When the hotel was built in 1960 it had a separate check-in and waiting area for people traveling with SAS from the Copenhagen International Airport. Buses would wait outside to transport the passengers to the airport itself. The terminal was located at the ground floor of the hotel, next to the lobby and was built to resemble the look of a airport. It was probably a very convenient service for the jet setters of the 1960s, but it was eventually discontinued. The hotel has obviously changed a lot over the years, but they have kept one room (606) in its original design, which also happens to be available to stay in if you want to experience a blast from the past.

PS. Happy birthday Ultra Swank, two years old September 1.

Related links
Official site
SAS Royal Hotel room design

Related posts
Eero Saarinen
Mies van der Rohe
The Crown Prince of Malmö


The Egg Chair, Arne Jacobsen, 1958


SAS Royal Hotel, exterior, Copenhagen, 1960s


SAS Royal Hotel, lobby, Copenhagen, 1960s


SAS Royal Hotel, restaurant, Copenhagen, 1960s


SAS Royal Hotel, SAS terminal, Copenhagen, 1960s

1964 New York World's Fair

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I have two favorite World's Fair expositions. The first one being the 1962 held in Seattle, also known as 'Century 21', the second one is the fair that was held in Queens, New York in 1964. It was the largest World's Fair ever hosted, and the theme for it was "Peace Through Understanding". This was represented through a huge model of the Earth called the 'Unisphere' which still stands there today. Like the fair in Seattle in 1962, this fair was mostly remembered for its mid century American corporate culture, bright plans for the future and 'Space Age' design. It was also the place where Walt Disney created and tested his system for 'audio-animatronics' which was used for several rides on the fair, i.e. Ford's 'Magic Skyway' and General Electric's 'Carousel of progress'.

More than 50 million people from all over the world visited the fair, but the fair had proven to be too costly and was not able to repay its financial backers. The fair closed permanently in 1970, however some of the buildings and pavilions survived. The most famous one is the 'Unisphere' which has become a symbol for Queens.

Related links
Wikipedia
Archive.org (movie)


The Unisphere, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964


Panorama showing one corner, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964


The Ford Pavilion designed by Disney, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964


Monorail, Worlds Fair, New York, 1964. From nycsubway.org

Eero Saarinen

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This is a continuation of my posts about my favourite architects from the golden days of architecture (this one is for you janepeepshow). Second up is Eero Saarinen, originally born in Finland in 1910. Relocated to the United States when his family emigrated there in 1923, where he began to study sculpture and furniture design. Saarinen however pursued his ambition to become an architect, his resume contains over 20 buildings.

My favorite Saarinen buildings are the TWA Flight Center at JFK Kennedy Airport in New York and the Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. The Trans World Airlines terminal at JFK is out of this world. The building was built for TWA in 1962 and is totally ultra futuristic and cool. "It was the first airline terminal to have closed circuit television, a central p/a system, baggage carousels, an electronic schedule board..." (source). It has become a landmark which has been featured in many movies, like 'Catch Me if You Can' and 'Death Wish'. The interior looks so swank and futuristic, it is really the essence of what modern jet travel was about in the 1960s. Too bad that they do not build airports like this any longer.

When TWA was bought by American Airlines in 2001 the building fell into decline and was decommissioned. It has then been used as a exhibition center for various events until 2005 when Jet Blue started constructing its new terminal next to it which will incorporate Saarinen's ultra cool building as a front.

Related links
More photos of the TWA Terminal 5 building


TWA Terminal 5 at JFK, New York (recent photo)


TWA Terminal 5 at JFK, New York,1990s. Photo by Kjell Nilsson.


TWA Terminal 5 at JFK, New York (recent photo)


Dulles International Airport, Washington D.C., 1960s

Mies van der Rohe

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I have a passion for amazing architecture and special types of buildings. Hard to describe the feeling you get when looking at something beautiful, it is like a gut feeling and it feels pleasant.

I have been thinking for quite some time now of getting some posts up of favorite architects from the golden days of architecture, thank you janepeepshow for your inspiration ;-) First off is 'Ludwig Mies van der Rohe', usually just refered to as 'Mies van der Rohe'. Born in Germany in 1886, immigrated to America in the 1930s where he started his career in Chicago as head of the architecture school the 'Armour Institute of Technology'. A legend who not only drew buildings but also designed some great looking furniture. His most famous work include the 'Barcelona chair', the 'Brno chair', the 'Seagram' building and the 'Barcelona Pavilion'. His 'Barcelona' chair is considered a classic design piece of the early 20th century and if you want to get your hands on one will probably have to pay a small fortune for it today.

My 'Mies van der Rohe' favourite is the 'Seagram' building located at 375 Park Avenue in New York. Built in 1958 as one of the finest examples of corporate modernism. The building it self has been used as a back drop in numerous movies and commercials. The best example in my opinion is the excellent movie 'The Best of Everything' which is a time piece about working girls in New York in the late 1950s. All exteriors were shot at location. The interiors were obviously sets but very well designed sets which were based on the floor plans of the building. The movie is really good and I recommend anyone who likes light hearted dramas with a pinch of romance to see it.


'The Best of Everything', Seagram building mock up, 1959


'The Seagram building', New York City, Mies van der Rohe, 1958


The 'Barcelona' chair, Mies van der Rohe, 1929