Getting cozy with Danish Design
Hygge
-
Finn Juhl
Photo © Finn Juhls Hus
-
Juhl Chair
Photo © Jackson Design
-
Hans Wegner
Photo © Fritz Hansen
-
Wegner's Papa Bear Chair
Courtesy of Jacksons
-
Pair of Low Lounge Chairs by Wegner
Courtesy of Frank Landau
-
Arne Jacobsen
Photo © Fritz Hansen
-
Set of 6 Grand Prix Chairs by Jacobsen
Courtesy of Ampersand House
-
Børge Mogensen
Photo © FREDERICIA
-
Mogensen Chair
Photo © Jackson Design
-
Nanna Ditzel
Photo © Thomas Ibsen
-
Nanna Ditzel Hanging Chair
Photo © Nanna Ditzel
When I think about Danish design, I always remember a term I learned in graduate school: hygge. Pronounced a bit like “hooga,” it’s an untranslatable concept (of Norwegian origin) that’s believed to be a cultural response to the low light and extreme cold of the Nordic lands. In short, if you can’t enjoy the outdoors, then it only makes sense to ensure your indoors are as inviting, comfortable, and functional as possible.
To get more insight, I reached out to my former professor of Scandinavian Design, Christopher Mount (who founded his eponymous gallery in L.A. in 2014) to see if he could tell us more. Here’s what he had to say.
“The best description I can think of is the warm and cozy feeling you would have while lounging on a comfortable couch, reading a good book, and drinking a hot beverage, snuggled with a loved one on a wet, cold day. It means to be contentedly cozy, in a kind of simple and romantic way. All of the classic, midcentury Danish furniture—by Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, and Nanna Ditzel—has a kind of warm, soft, and 'hyggely' quality.”
All of the designers and architects named by Mount possessed a striking ability to blend sophisticated aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship; their forms always seem to welcome and embrace you while maintaining an exciting sculptural form.
In an ode to the contentedly cozy—and all the understated sophistication and over-the-top craftsmanship to come out of Denmark—click through the slideshow to see some of our favorite Danish masters of hygge.
-
Text by
-
Wava Carpenter
After studying Design History, Wava has worn many hats in support of design culture: teaching design studies, curating exhibitions, overseeing commissions, organizing talks, writing articles—all of which informs her work now as Pamono’s Editor-in-Chief.
-
More to Love
Dining Table by Børge Mogensen
Model 2254 Slaedestolen Armchair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1950s
BM-2226 Spanish Chair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture
Extendable Dining Table by Borge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner, 1950s
Oak Scandinavian Dining Set by Borge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner
High-Backed Chair by Børge Mogensen for Federicia, 1960s
2254 Model Lounge Chair & Ottoman by Borge Mogensen
Model 2207 Red Leather Easy Chair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia
Model 2208 2-Seater Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia
Model 2213 3-Seater Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia
Teak & Oak Bedside Tables by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Furniture Factory, 1960s, Set of 2
Teak Sideboard by Børge Mogensen for C.M. Madsen, 1950s
Model 2221 Safari Chair by Borge Mogensen, 1950s
Teak & Oak Hunt Coffee Table by Børge Mogensen
Mid Century Stool by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik, 1960s
2192 Sofa by Boerge Mogensen for Frederica Furniture, 1958
Leather Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredrericia Stolefabrik, 1960s
Danish Teak Armchair by Børge Mogensen
Mid Century Coffee Table by Børge Mogensen for Tidos, 1950s
Scandinavian 3 Seater Sofa by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1950s
2208 Leather Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture, 1970s
Danish Mid-Century Chest of Drawers by Børge Mogensen for FDB Møbler
Danish Teak Secretary by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik
Mid-Century Dining Chairs by Borge Mogensen for M Madsens Fabriker, Set of 8
Vintage Leather Easy Chair by Borge Mogensen for Frederica Stolefabrik
Teak Chest by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik
Oak & Leather Safari Chair by Børge Mogensen
Leather Safari Chair by Børge Mogensen
2218 Sofa by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1959
Brown Leather Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1960s
Brown Leather Armchair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1960s
Model 3242 Dining Chairs by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, Set of 4
Folding Table by Børge Mogensen for Søborgs Møbelfabrik
2254 Model Lounge Chair & 2248 Ottoman by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia
Midcentury Teak Bookcase by Borge Mogensen for C.M. Madsen, 1950s
The Spanish Chair by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1965, Set of 2
Danish Bookcase by Børge Mogensen for FDB, 1960s
Midcentury Side Tables by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, 1950s, Set of 2
Model 122 Dining Chairs by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, Set of 8
Oak Drop Leaf Dining Table by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, 1950s
C35 Shaker Dining Table by Børge Mogensen for F.D.B. Furniture
Rocking Chair by Finn Juhl for Pastoe
Teak and Metal Desk by Børge Mogensen for Søborgs Møbelfabrik, 1952
2209 3-Seater Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia
Model 2218 Three Seater Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik
Spoke Back Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fritz Hansen & Søn, 1976
3-Seater Leather by Sofa Børge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1963
Danish Teak Secretary Cabinet by Borge Mogensen for Bornholm Mobler
J39 Dining Chairs by Borge Mogensen for FDB Mobler, 1950s, Set of 4
Shaker Dining Table C18 by Borge Mogensen for FDB, 1969
Danish Model No. 155 Teak Chairs by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, Set of 4
2203 Danish Leather Sofa by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1960s
2213 Sofa by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik, 1960s
Dining Chairs by Borge Mogensen for C.M. Madsen, Set of 6
Extendable Dining Table 'Øresund' by Borge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner, 1960s
Model 5272 Coffee Table by Børge Mogensen for Fredricia Stolefabrik, 1955
Bookcase with Sliding Doors by Børge Mogensen
Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture, 1984
Wing Lounge Chair & Footstool Set by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1960s
High Back Lounge Chair by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia, 1960s
Coffee Table by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik
2192 Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik, 1971
Small Sideboard by Børge Mogensen for C.M. Madsen
Danish Nightstand by Børge Mogensen, Set of 2
Spanish Chairs by Børge Mogensen, Set of 2
Chair by Børge Mogensen for Federicia
Model 3235 Chairs by Børge Mogensen, Set of 4
Dining Chairs by Børge Mogensen, Set of 6, 1947
Shaker Dining Chair by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson & Söner, 1950s
Vintage Armchair by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik
Vintage Hunting Table by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Furniture
Sofa by Børge Mogensen for Fritz Hansen & Son
2204 Lounge Chair by Børge Mogensen for Fredricia Stolefabrik, 1960s
Swedish Modular System by Børge Mogensen, 1960s
BM 2256 Easy Chairs by Borge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture, Set of 2
Dining Chairs by Borge Mogensen CM Madsen, Set of 6
Secretaire by Borge Mogensen for Soborg Möbel
Secretary by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, 1950s
2204 Armchair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture, 1960s
Mid Century Wall Unit by Børge Mogensen for FDB, 1954
Real Leather 2212 Two Seater Sofa by Børge Mogensen für Fredericia
Natural Leather and Oak Chair by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Furniture, 1950s
Leather 2-Seater Sofa 2212 by Børge Mogensen, 1960s
2207 Armchairs by Børge Mogensen, 1960s, Set of 2
Oak Chairs by Børge Mogensen for AB Karl Andersson, 1955, Set of 2
Bookcase by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, 1950s
Danish Shell Chairs by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, 1950s, Set of 2