A Modern Home – Finn Juhl’s House
For many people interested in modern architecture, Finn Juhl’s house is a mythical place. One of the most prominent of the Danish mid-century designers, Juhl built a house for himself and his first wife Inge Marie Skaarup, just north of Copenhagen.
What is it about the house that so many people find appealing? It’s not a big place, and rather unassuming, at least from the outside. Many of the furniture are Finn Juhl originals, well-known for those who frequent places like the interior design department of Bon Marché in Paris or Copenhagen’s Illum Bolighus.
It consists of two one-storey buildings that together form an L. In one part, there is a living room and study, and in the other, slightly larger space, there’s a kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms and a dining room. In the middle of the L, there is the entrance as well as sliding doors that open out into the garden, designed by landscape architect Troels Erstad.
Visiting the house makes it apparent how closely related Scandinavian modern design and traditional Japanese craftsmanship really are. Juhl’s home is filled with Japanese items, and the sliding doors are clearly inspired by Japanese architecture. But where the Japanese objects are minimalist, Juhl’s Danish interpretations have added a sense of warmth.
Juhl lived in the house for 47 years. His first wife only stayed for a year, but his new partner, Hanne Wilhelm Hansen remained in the house until her death in 2009. It’s easy to understand why – there are few houses in the world with this much character, while also being comfortable, light, and carefree. It might sound like a strange way of describing a house, but there’s no other way to describe it.
The house has been preserved as it was during Juhl’s lifetime, complete with his collection of books and artworks by Danish artists, including Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Asger Jorn, Erik Thommesen, and Sonja Ferlov Mancoba.
The house is unique, as there are very few Finn Juhl houses preserved. Though trained as an architect, he is mainly known today for his iconic furniture, such as the Chieftain Chair, the Poet Sofa, and the Silver Table. For the house, he received the prestigious C.F. Hansen-medal in 1944.
Finn Juhl’s House
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