AJ

The Legacy of Innovation: The AJ Collection

Originally designed by Arne Jacobsen for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1957, the AJ lamp is one of Jacobsen's most significant design icons. The initial range included a variety of lighting solutions: a floor lamp, a wall lamp, two sizes of table lamps, and a specifically designed table lamp for attachment to a table. The AJ floor lamp, with its iconic graphic expression, perfectly encapsulates Jacobsen's design philosophy, offering a striking contrast to the curvature of some furniture at the SAS Royal Hotel. Its timeless design facilitates seamless integration into any interior, and over the years, the color palette has been updated to align with modern interior trends.

A Harmonious Balance Between Form and Function

The AJ Collection stands as a testament to Arne Jacobsen's masterful fusion of form and function. Originally designed for the SAS Royal Hotel—a project embodying the modernist ethos with its clean lines and simple elegance—the AJ lamps embody design simplicity that remains the ideal choice for contemporary interiors. Arne Jacobsen, a pioneer of Danish modernist architecture, left an indelible mark on design with his buildings across Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Raised and educated in Copenhagen, Jacobsen's holistic approach to architecture and design led to the creation of "gesamtkunstwerk," where every detail, from lighting to furniture, door handles, fabrics, and even cutlery, was meticulously designed.

Arne Jacobsen: A Visionary in Design

Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) stands as a towering figure in modernist Danish architecture, renowned for his significant contributions to both architecture and design disciplines. After graduating from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Jacobsen quickly established his own studio and embarked on projects that would define his career. Jacobsen's design decisions often led to the creation of comprehensive works of art, designing not only the structure itself but also most of the interior elements, including lighting fixtures, furniture, door handles, textiles, and tableware. Among his most famous designs are "The Egg" and "The Swan" chairs, and for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, which opened in 1960, he designed the AJ lamp.

Awards and Legacy

Throughout his life, Arne Jacobsen received numerous prestigious awards for projects like the National Bank of Denmark (1971), the SAS Royal Hotel & Terminal in Copenhagen (1960), and St Catherine's College in Oxford, UK (1963). Some speculate that his fear of flying limited his impact on the American architectural landscape. Jacobsen served as a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts for 11 years, influencing a generation of Danish architects, each of whom eventually developed their own architectural language, many with the same functional and minimalist approach as Arne Jacobsen.

The AJ Collection Today

With each piece, the AJ Collection by Louis Poulsen affirms the enduring power of Arne Jacobsen's design. True design transcends time and trends, and the AJ Collection continues to illuminate interiors worldwide. Its blend of timeless aesthetics, innovative functionality, and forward-thinking design not only pays homage to Jacobsen's original vision but also ensures its relevance in contemporary and future spaces.