Room 606: The SAS House and the Work of Arne Jacobsen
If you’re a regular reader of this site you’ve probably realised that we don’t do things by halves. Often I delve deeply and get obsessive about a particular subject, so much so that I really like to go in to detail. This post promotes that way of thinking and doesn’t just focus on the major elements, something that’s a real pet hate of mine. Actually, I’ve been wondering whether I should tune some of these posts down, as it’s not always evident that the people who read articles online finish them. Not to tar everyone with the same brush of course, there are those individuals like myself that do enjoy reading longer pieces of writing. In the end I just decided to stick with the method that works for me and the general format that we like to follow here, I hate this whole mentality so I’m here to flip it around.
One good fellow that did take this way of thinking and put it in to literal form was Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen. He won’t just be remembered for his stunning furniture, but also the amount of detail and focus he put in to the field of architecture. One of his most complete and refined works sits in the centre of Copenhagen and opened in 1960, the SAS Royal Hotel. Apart from it being an architectural masterpiece, the SAS Royal Hotel was also known for many of Jacobsen’s custom furnishings and industrial design objects, most of which are still in production today. I came across this lecture by New York City architect Michael Sheridan on Vimeo over the weekend, which is co-presented by the Vancouver Art Gallery and Inform Interiors, with support from Fritz Hansen. It gives us a tour of this grand hotel and explains its central role in Jacobsen’s career and the source of its enduring appeal. Michael also talks about how room 606, a room in the hotel that’s original to Arne Jacobsen’s specifications, changed his life for the better.
I’m not going to lie to you and say this is a “short and sweet” film, it’s very in-depth and lasts for around an hour. Saying that, I learnt a great deal watching it, and I consider myself quite well informed regarding Arne Jacobsen and his works. Not only does it make you aware of his natural progression as a designer, but also his appreciation for all the arts, particularly textiles and the field of painting. This sort of experimentation is something I am trying to live by myself, remembering to never settle in one place. So watch on below and enjoy this lecture, you’re sure to be inspired. If you want to delve deeper than this I’d highly recommend viewing Michael Sheridan’s book on Arne Jacobsen’s which you can purchase via Amazon. There’s a wealth of pictures inside, I’m hoping one day soon I’ll be able to actually visit this hotel and experience the room for myself.