Design story
Arne Jacobsen office armchair made history in 1965. It was originally designed for the professors at St. Catherine’s College in Oxford, England. When the Dean of St. Catherine’s College chose Arne Jacobsen to build an extension for the college, he was also commissioned to design the surrounding landscape and a furniture series for the college. The chair has since become synonymous with prestige and status. Today the chair is a classic in the Fritz Hansen collection.
It all started when a delegation from Oxford university visited the SAS Hotel in Copenhagen and Munkegaard School (both designed by Arne Jacobsen) in their search for an architect for St Catherine’s College. They were soon convinced he was the right choice for their important commission. Jacobsen was also commissioned to design the surrounding landscape and a furniture series for the college. He even selected the choice of fish species for the pond. The dining hall is notable for its Cumberland slate floor. The original college buildings received a Grade I listing in 1993.
The Oxford chair has since become synonymous with prestige and status. Today the chair is a classic in the Fritz Hansen collection and comes with a high or low back, with or without armrest, and even with Paul Smith fabric. However, only a limited number was produced with Paul Smith fabric.
As young Jacobsen wanted to become a painter but ended studying architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and became an architect of some of the most iconic buildings in Copenhagen. With his minimalistic design (he notoriously hated the word “design”) he was also a key contributor to functionalism. When designing The Danish National Bank (1965) and the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen (1956), Jacobsen had the opportunity to realise his idea of integrating design and architecture. These large projects led to design of some of his most famous furniture such as the Egg and the Swan. Jacobsens attention to detail and humble approach meant that he got involved in design of cutler for some of his large architecture projects.
In 2012, Fritz Hansen collaborated with respected British designer Paul Smith to produce the Egg and Arne Jacobsen office chairs in Paul Smith fabrics.
