Revamped Arne Jacobsen desks and seats serve as an inspiring back-to-school design choice
Article Title: Reviving the Arne Jacobsen Munkegaard School Desk and Chair
In 1956, Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen crafted a timeless masterpiece for the Munkegaard School in Denmark – a collection of desks and chairs that have since become emblematic of mid-century modern design.
These iconic pieces boast green desk tops and wooden elements, reflecting the functional and minimalist aesthetic of the era. The design was carefully tailored to meet the practical demands of a school environment, blending aesthetics with functionality.
The Munkegaard School desks and chairs are not just relics of the past; they are versatile and suitable for resuming routines, starting fresh, and finding new things to learn. Each classroom in the school was designed to overlook its own private courtyard, fostering a sense of intimacy and connection to the outdoors.
The desks feature a curved, laminated veneer top covered in green Formica and a tubular metal frame, while the accompanying chair is formed from a single, lightweight piece of moulded plywood, widening at the backrest for extra comfort and featuring a stackable design.
Historically, the Munkegaard School desks and chairs hold significant value, demonstrating Jacobsen’s holistic approach to functional design in an educational setting. The furniture embodies Jacobsen’s broader design philosophy of simplicity, elegance, and user-focused functionality, typical of 1950s Danish modernism.
Today, these vintage desks and chairs have been revived and are available for purchase through modernist design stores such as Sigmar in London, which specializes in contemporary and iconic mid-century pieces. Occasionally, vintage original pieces may also appear on marketplaces like Etsy from specialized sellers dealing in Scandinavian and Danish design collectibles.
One unique feature of the Munkegaard School design is a loudspeaker made of heat-pressed Plexiglas sheet with four embedded speakers, which was a part of Jacobsen’s designs for the school. This loudspeaker later became the starting point for a collaboration between Jacobsen and Braun.
Jacobsen also designed the landscaping around the school to allow children easy access to the outdoors, ensuring the building was cloistered and intimate yet connected to nature.
Four sets of the Munkegaard School desks and chairs are available in very good vintage condition from Sigmar, showcasing the beautiful, even patina that has developed over time. The Formica table tops of the desks have minor wear, adding to their charm and character.
In summary, the Arne Jacobsen Munkegaard School desk and chair are not just pieces of furniture; they are a testament to the enduring legacy of one of the masters of mid-century Danish design and architecture.
The timeless design of the Arne Jacobsen Munkegaard School desks and chairs, with their green desk tops and wooden elements, not only reflects the functional and minimalist lifestyle of the 1950s, but also serves as a versatile addition to modern home-and-garden interiors, offering a touch of mid-century modern interior-design elegance.
Whether displayed collectively in a home office or individually throughout a home, the revived Munkegaard School desks and chairs bring a unique blend of history, style, and user-focused functionality, becoming a conversation piece that speaks volumes about the aesthetics of the mid-century period in both educational and residential settings.
