Arne Jacobsen (1902–1971) is regarded as one of Denmark's most internationally important architects and designers of the 20th century. His designs followed the style of functionalism.
After completing an apprenticeship as a stonemason, he studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen in Denmark from 1924 to 1927. At just 23, he received a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in France – the first of many honours that would follow during his life. His artistic energy, his tireless searching and his assured solutions earned him numerous wins in national and international design competitions.
His main works include the town halls in Aarhus, Søllerød, Rødovre and Glostrup, the SAS Building (Royal Hotel) in Copenhagen, Munkegård School in Gentofte, Toms Fabrikker in Ballerup, Denmark's National Bank, the sports hall in Landskrona in Sweden, St Catherine's College in Oxford in the UK and the administrative building of the Hamburgische Electricitäts-Werke in Hamburg in Germany.
In 1932, Arne Jacobsen began working with Fritz Hansens Eft. A/S, and over the years he designed a series of chairs and armchairs that have often been described as milestones in the development of modern furniture. These include the "Ant" (1952), the "Egg" (1958) and the "Swan" (1958).
Arne Jacobsen also took on the challenge of finding new and groundbreaking solutions in other areas of the applied arts, including his "Cylinda-Line" series of stainless steel tableware.
Arne Jacobsen was a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and received honorary doctorates from several foreign universities and academies. In 1967, the Cylinda-Line was awarded the ID Prize by the Danish Society of Industrial Design. In 1968, he received the International Design Award from the American Institute of Interior Designers.
