Showing posts with label Denmark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denmark. Show all posts

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Inspiring Icons/ Arne Jacobsen for SAS Royal Hotel

Room 606, Image courtesy of Phaidon

Left: Egg Chair and Foot Stool designed by Arne Jacobsen, 1956, Right: Room 606

Left: Room 606, The book by Phaidon, Right: Room 606 

Left: Room 606
Right: Shaker base Coffee Table, 1968, designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen as seen in this room

Left: The Drop Chair, designed by Arne Jacobsen, 1958, Right: Seen in Room 606

Left: Flatware designed by Arne Jacobsen, 1957, designed for the hotel
Right: Cylinder Series, Designed in the 1960's, Manufactured by Stelton used in the hotel.

Left: The Royal SAS as it was in the 1960's
Right, Clockwise: Pot chair in tan leather (the original was a green wool fabric) , designed in 1959,
Chair Series 3300, in black leather, designed in 1956, Swan sofa, designed in 1956, All produced by Fritz Hansen 

Details of Room 606, Images courtesy of Phaidon 

Left: An early wall sconce version of what has become known as the AJ light
Right: the Foyer as it was back in the 1960's

Left: Detail of entrance, Right: Room 606, Images courtesy of Phaidon

The Giraffe Chair, designed 1957, surrounded by Arne Jacobsen designed fabrics

If there was a ever a room I would love to stay in it would be Room 606, designed by Arne Jacobsen at The Royal SAS Hotel now known as The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Situated in Copenhagen, Denmark, The hotel was built between 1956-61. Known as one of Arne Jacobsen's masterpieces, It was the city’s first skyscraper, a vision in sea-green glass and steel. He designed every last bit of the hotel including wallpaper, textiles, doorknobs, cutlery, lamps and featured his highly celebrated Swan and Egg chairs as well as lesser know chairs such as the Giraffe that was featured in the dining room, the Drop chair that was featured in the cafe/ snack bar and the Pot chair featured in the indoor winter garden. 

I respond largely to the blue and green palette with it's wood accents in the Room 606 which is the only Arne Jacobsen designed room left in it's original state in the hotel. This room has inspired the colors I personally like to live with and has been a huge source of inspiration for Studio Marcus Hay in general. I have been lucky to visit the original hotel and like to check in on my regular visits to Copenhagen, I only wish I was able finance a hotel re haul that would bring it back to to it's original design, In it's day it would have been magnificent. 

There is an excellent book by Phaidon that is now available in soft back, It gives a detailed account of the project and Arne's vision. 



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Louisiana Museum/ Humlebæk, Denmark


Left: Poster for Yoko Ono Exhibition, Right: Henry Moore sculpture, Photography: Marcus Hay
Left: Detail and Right: One of the glass corridors, Photography: Marcus Hay


Left: Building nestled into hill, Right: Detail of Manoir d'essor/ Dynamic Manor, 1969/82 by Jean Dubuffet
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of Elevator, Right: Bench, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Alexander Calder sculpture, Right: A Closer Grand Canyon, 1998, David Hockney, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of Gardens, Right: Waterways surround one of the pavilions, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of stairs, Right: Detail in cafe, Arne Jacobsen stools lined up, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Untitled, Fall, 1994-96 by Jennifer Pastor, Right: Per Kirkeby, Bilbilleder/ Car Pictures, 1964
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Jesus Rafael Soto, The Big Blue, 1964, Right: The Concert Hall, Photography: Marcus Hay

Details of Museum, Photography: Marcus Hay

Details of Museum, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Sculptures by Alberto Giacometti, Painting by Philip Guston, Mirror to S.K, 1960, Right: Sculpture by Giacometti
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Poul Gernes Target, 1966-68, Right: Sculpture by Miro, Photography: Marcus Hay

The cafe at Louisiana, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Wishing Tree for Yoko Ono's Exhibit, Right: Detail of the grounds, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of my lunch, Right: Detail of the cafe, Photography: Marcus Hay

Details of Museum, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: A.R Penck, Requiem for Waltraud, 1976, Right: Work by Tara Donovan, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of work by Tara Donovan, Right: Detail of Museum, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of Calder Sculpture, Right: Detail of Exterior of Museum, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Details of the grounds, Right: Henri Laurens, Grande Femme Debout a la Draperie, 1928
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Pillars by Louise Bourgeois, 1947-49, Right: Poul Gernes, Black and White Decorations, 1980
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: The Gounds, Right: Exterior of Museum, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of stairs in Museum, Right: Oskar Schlemmer, Abstract Figure, Sculpture in the Round G, 1921/23
Photography: Marcus Hay


Could it be said that this is one of the most beautiful places on earth? I could say it might be true! For years people have been telling me to board the train to Louisiana in Copenhagen, Having missed it on my last trips, I now see how important it is to weave into your itinerary if visiting Copenhagen.

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is an art museum located directly on the shore of the Øresund Sound in Humlebæk, north of Copenhagen. It is the most visited art museum in Denmark with an extensive permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, dating from World War II and up until now, as well as a comprehensive programme of special exhibitions, We were lucky to see an retrospective of Yoko Ono who although a New York transplant like me, has an exhibition here that profiles her amazing life and career.

The museum is also acknowledged as a milestone in modern Danish architecture, noted for the synthesis it creates of art, architecture and landscape. It really is amazing the way it folds in and out of the hill and although quite a big museum, you feel as if the blend between indoor/ outdoor and a wrap around feel that is not obvious at first glance.

The name of the museum derives from the first owner of the property, Alexander Brun, who named the villa after his three wives, all named Louise, The museum was created in 1958 by Knud W. Jensen, the owner at the time. He contacted architects Vilhelm Wohlert and Jørgen Bo who spent a few months walking around the property before deciding how a new construction would best fit into the landscape. This study resulted in the first version of the museum consisting of three buildings connected by glass corridors. Since then it has been extended several times until it reached its present circular shape in 1991. The interior and the exterior including the sculpture gardens are magical and breathtakingly beautiful, I loved it so much I went back twice.

The café is great and the fare is amazing, you can eat a traditional Danish lunch with Sweden in the distance over the water via the Calder sculptures, what could be better? 

Check out more at the website for details, The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art 

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

More snippets of Copenhagen/ Summer 2013

Left: Copenhagen Building, Right: The city roofs from The Rundetaarn, Copenhagen,
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Arne Jacobsen egg and swan chairs in black leather, first designed for the SAS Hotel, Copenhagen.
Right: Illustration by Henry McCausland commissioned by department store, Magasin
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Montana Danish shelving system, Right: The interior of the round tower, The Rundetaarn, Copenhagen
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Roses are everywhere around the city, shot in Christanhavn, Right: Chairs In store
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: In store on Bredgade, Right: More roses in Christanhavn, Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Art Deco tower on bridge, Copenhagen, Montana Danish shelving system in store on Bredgade
Photography: Marcus Hay

At The Design Museum, Left: Bla Pram vase, 1993 by Karen Bennicke, Geometrisk studie object 1982, by Bretislav Novak, Right: Stol chair by Rud Thygsen, 1988, Photography: Marcus Hay

At The Design Museum, Left: VP Globe Light, 1970, by Verner Panton, Right: The Bow Chair by Grete Jalk, 1963
Photography: Marcus Hay

At The Design Museum, Left: Flower Pot pendant light, 1968,  by Verner Panton
Right: Looking in 1960's room at The Design Museum
Photography: Marcus Hay

At The Design Museum, Left: Finn Juhl chair with British fabric exhibit
Right: Tradskitsestol chair, 1985 by Anders Hermansen
Photography: Marcus Hay

At The Design Museum, Designs by Nanna Ditzel, 1960's, Photography: Marcus Hay

At The Design Museum, Left: Finn Juhl sofa with British Textile exhibit, Right: Chair by Finn Juhl, 1955
Photography: Marcus Hay


The city of Copenhagen continues to delight in so many ways, What I have really loved is reconnecting with the city and even going back to places I know I loved the last time around.

One such place is The Design Museum, Danmark. Here is a place rich with iconic pieces by the great Danish Designers such as  Verner Panton, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen and Nanna Ditzel to name a few! I love the design of this museum which also boasts a great store and cafe, the best bit is you can take your lunch out into the sun drenched garden that is located in the middle of the complex. 

It was originally a hospital that got converted into a Museum in the 1920's. The museum houses the biggest library for design in Scandinavia. It also hosts a fully annotated and illustrated database of all furniture made in Denmark from 1900 to 2000.

Here in this post is also some of my wanderings around Copenhagen, With another week here I have many more updates from Denmark heading your way. 



Saturday, June 22, 2013

The Apartment/ Copenhagen, Denmark


The winding staircase leading up to The Apartment, Image courtesy of The Apartment


Left: Detail including 1960's Curtis Jere wall sculpture and Murano glass vase from Itlay, Right: Living room
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of room including McCollins Bryan tinted lens tables and Ludvig Pontoppidan Danish lambswool sofa,
Right: Living Room, Including 1950's Swedish dressing room chair, Photography: Marcus Hay

Right: Detail of Hans Wegner Flagline lounge chair, Left: 1950's Swedish daybed, Re upholstered in floral fabric
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Hans Wegner Peacock chair, Right: Detail of wallpaper
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail, Right: Dining Room, including 1970's Saarinen Tulip table with green marble top
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: View of room, Including Thonet bentwood rocker, Right: Detail of room beyond
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Hallway with vintage USA quilt and vintage Moroccan rug, Right: Scultpure
Photography: Marcus Hay

Left: Detail of stairwell, Right: detail of Dining Room, with Curtis Jere wall sculpture
Photography: Marcus Hay

Taken from their website, Their inventory is clearly listed and pictured, Image courtesy of The Apartment

Images courtesy of The Apartment


Located in Christianshavn, A really beautiful part of Copenhagen along the waterside is an apartment that is called simply The Apartment, Perhaps like many industry peoples real apartments it could be seen as a showcase of someone with amazing style and a keen sense of color and imagination, but this is actually a whole lot more than that!

Walking up timber scented stairs and a beautiful winding staircase you enter a world that belongs to Founder Tina Seidenfaden Busck and her business partner, Pernille Hornhaver. Opened just a year ago.

The Apartment is a liaison of 20th century furniture, contemporary art and design, showcased in the elegant setting of an 18th century Copenhagen apartment, It’s purpose is to showcase and sell works by renowned, international artists with the idea of taking apartment envy to a new level: it’s set up to feel like a private home. ‘‘Every piece I would own myself,’’ has said Tina.

As indicated on their website, theapartment.dk, Both Tina and Pernille have had extensive experience in selecting unique pieces of furniture and implementing these in interior design. Thus they work with a fundamental understanding of how to make beautiful objects resonate with each other and create spaces rich with visual and emotional value.

It is such an amazing concept and one that makes me feel instantly at home. To be able to see pieces in situ and set up as if someone had just stepped out of the room, gives you you an instant hit of how to apply any of the desired pieces work to your own scheme. The Apartment changes out monthly as pieces are sold, In collaboration with other well known designers. Watch as The Apartment switches out and transforms overnight, On a smaller scale, it feels kind of like my own apartment really, as anyone that knows me well would confirm. I think many of us who love that process of changing spaces would agree this is the ultimate playground. 

Thanks so much to Helle for showing me around this great space. 

It has been written up and received much applause by The New York Times T Magazine, Case Da Abitare and Elle Decoration DK.

They are open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10 to 4 pm, Or by appointment.
The Apartment, Overgaden Neden Vandt, 33, 2nd floor, 1414, Copenhagen, +45 25 37 04 02