Lecture 7 : Interior Design

I was a bit surprised the first time I stepped into my host family's house. One couch? A family of 4 (now 5) and only one couch? And where was the recliner? My initial reaction to the minimalist style that defines the Danes interior spaces was a bit surprised. Back home we have three different rooms for leisure seating each which two couches and at least one chair. But as I quickly came to realize, my host families set up wasn't all that different from their fellow Danes.

When describing how Danes live to people back home I being by explaining the fundamental white walls and unfinished hardwood floors. Next, I mention that rooms feel like museums with carefully selected Scandinavian furnishings often recognizable by majority of the population. PK lamps and skylights brighten the space while Tivoli radios and B&O televisions bring the room to life. The focus on interior is quite different from the United States. We spend our money on designer hand bags and flashy cars to display our wealth and sense of self worth. I find it no surprise that the Danes, living in a social welfare society, are more focused on what lies within -- their dwellings a fine example of this.

Although I've become quite fascinated with the Danish approach to interior furnishing, I've often questioned the homogeneity of  the art. Stores like Illums proudly display the chairs that helped put Denmark on the design map, but has Denmark's obsession with 'golden age' furniture crippled their ability to continuously press the envelope and design for the future? I'm certainly not criticizing the work of Jacobsen, Juhl and Panton, but simply questioning if their impact has been too strong on today's Danish homemaker.

There is no doubt my future living spaces will be inspired by Denmark's attention to quality and simplicity. A visit with my host family to a former neighbor's new Copenhagen apartment had me in shock by the sheer size of the space. The apartment for two is smaller than my studio for the next school year. Understanding Danish interiors goes beyond furniture with their size and organization speaking just as loudly. These elements cannot be forgotten when studying the typical dwelling in Denmark. Additionally, the inclusion of exterior space is almost equally important. Not only do expansive glass walls facilitate a discussion with nature, but they further enhance the quality of light in a space. Together these elements create an honest Danish living space.