Arne Jacobsen quotes

Arne Jacobsen was a Danish architect and designer, widely recognized for his contribution to modernist architecture and furniture design. His works, such as the SAS Royal Hotel and iconic chairs like the Egg and Swan, have had a lasting impact on design worldwide. He became a leading figure of Scandinavian modernism and inspired generations of architects and designers. Here are 26 of his quotes:

If a building becomes architecture, then it is art.

Arne Jacobsen

In a way, the sense of quality has improved, the status symbol of the small things is gone, and it is acceptable to use stainless steel, even if the neighbour uses silver.

Arne Jacobsen

If architecture had nothing to do with art, it would be astonishingly easy to build houses, but the architect's task - his most difficult task - is always that of selecting.

Arne Jacobsen

When I travel, I draw and paint sketches which is great fun. And as long as you are fully aware that it has nothing to do with actual art, I think that's all right.

Arne Jacobsen

The primary factor is proportions.

Arne Jacobsen

I have no philosophy, my favourite thing is sitting in the studio.

Arne Jacobsen

That is the artistic task: To choose the best from these solutions.

Arne Jacobsen

I do not feel certain until I have confronted my initial solution with other solutions - although in fact the first solution often proves to be the right one.

Arne Jacobsen

In addressing a task, one almost always has several possible options, sometimes only a few, and they may all be practical and functional. But they lack the aesthetic aspect that raises it to architecture.

Arne Jacobsen

With a painter or a sculptor, one cannot begin to alter his works, but an architect has to put up with anything, because he makes utility objects - the building is there to be used, and times change.

Arne Jacobsen

Carrying out the thing, getting it to the point when one might say: There, now it is good - that point is hard to reach. Often, one sets very high goals for oneself. Perhaps too high.

Arne Jacobsen

Proportions are what makes the old Greek temples classic in their beauty. They are like huge blocks, from which the air has been literally hewn out between the columns.

Arne Jacobsen

Now, the downside to conservation is that so much is done for the public, which almost always mars the environment that one wanted to conserve.

Arne Jacobsen

On the other hand, I don't understand the enthusiasm for everything in the antique shop that Grandma threw out. There, the sense of quality has declined; otherwise Grandma wouldn't have thrown it out.

Arne Jacobsen

Besides, I think that when one has been through a boarding school, especially then, you have some resistance, because it was both fine comradeship and a fairly hard training.

Arne Jacobsen

Almost every time I make a building, some people will condemn it straight to Hell.

Arne Jacobsen

I am going to be working on bathroom fittings for a company in the USA, and then I thought it was appropriate to simplify the fittings and, thus, lowering the cost.

Arne Jacobsen

You will soon find that I am a bit obsessive about my work. And that is a little sad, one often feels strangely restricted, not finding time to simmer, although one actually has many interests.

Arne Jacobsen

But inspiration? - That's when you come home from abroad and are asked: Well, have you found inspiration? - and fortunately you haven't. But the impressions sink in, of course, and may emerge later: None of us has invented the house; that was done many thousands of years ago.

Arne Jacobsen

Furniture manufacturing in plastics requires very costly machinery, which the Danish market is not big enough to justify. Or so they say. But show me a plastics manufacturer who dares to take on the experiment.

Arne Jacobsen

Architecture tends to consume everything else, it has become one's entire life.

Arne Jacobsen

I don't see that any buildings should be excluded from the term architecture, as long as they are done properly.

Arne Jacobsen