Arne Jacobsen

Arne Jacobsen was one of the 20th century’s greatest Danish architects. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid internationally to his talent, which, accompanied by enormous productivity, left its mark on all fields of architecture, both in Denmark and abroad.

Rooted in Neo-classicism as it was taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Jacobsen’s unique artistic inclinations quickly enabled him to assimilate the revolutionary currents that transformed architecture in the 1920s and ‘30s. He was one of Danish architecture’s earliest modernists, and his projects from this period radiate a joyous optimism about the future. Nonetheless, he carried within him classical architecture’s dictates, even when he changed styles. He demonstrated a perfect mastery of proportioning, founded on the virtues of classical architecture, but purged of figurative epigonism.

Jacobsen’s talent was legendary. He was one of Denmark’s finest watercolor painters, took an unflagging interest in new building and production methods, and experimented with new materials in order to carry his intentions to the full. He had a command of all stages of the architectural process, from the first overall concept to the design of the smallest door fitting. This all-embracing mastery, combined with a virtuosity unparalleled in Danish architecture, is demonstrated in this formidable book, which was made as exhaustive as possible based on present knowledge.

The project was a decade in the making as Carsten Thau and Kjeld Vindum delved into the material, drawing forth new aspects of Arne Jacobsen’s genius. It is the most comprehensive book ever written about Jacobsen. The first part describes his life, sources of inspiration, and the results of his efforts, while the second presents more detailed analyses of selected works. The book concludes with a list of Arne Jacobsen’s work, a biographical list, a list of exhibitions, a bibliography, and an extensive index.