About Børge Mogensen

Børge Mogensen (1914-1972 ) was an architect and designer, who has become an institution in Denmark and played an instrumental part in the Danish modern movement.

He attended Copenhagen School of Arts and Craft and was taught by Kaara Klint from 1936 to 38 where he met fellow designer Hans J Wegner and they became friends for life. He then went on to study architecture at Royal Danish Academy of Art.

In 1950 he began his own design studio, making modern, useful furniture with local nordic materials. He designed furniture for modern life and used it in his own home His designs were simple, functional and unpretentious. with a strong sense of quality, construction and he used the beauty of wood as a material, with wool and brass, to create his calm aesthetic.

Celebrated as the ‘peoples designer’, he had an engaging personality and always strived to design quality furniture that was within people’s reach.

Børge built several houses for himself, he designed these houses to use them as laboratories for the development of his new furniture, he tested many of his prototype designs in his own home. When a new chair or sofa arrived, the whole family would help “test” them. The children would jump on the sofas, play around on the chairs and the entire family would sit on the dining chairs for their meals. If the designs were strong enough to endure everyday life with his kids, Mogensen would consider them “approved.”

Summerhouse in Limfjorden

The Summerhouse was designed - with architect Arne Karlsen - on a narrow site close to water, with grand lines and graphic attention to detail. It combines quality materials and a proportional element. He took Inspiration from many cultures and styles; international modernism, ethical arts, Japanese carvings and other historic works. His summerhouse has many core design features in common with his other houses; limed plaster, washed bricks natural stone floors and a central fireplace.

When Mogensen built it he made sure it was meticulously perfect. All the bricks were handmade by Borge and his assistant. Mogenson and his son spent several weeks calculating the layering of the bricks so that they would look the same on the inside as the outside.

“We calculated and made sketches for several weeks. All corners of the house had to be measured. And you instantly feel that, when you enter the house. Everything adds up, it’s all connected and the same measurements and proportions are repeated throughout, creating a very special atmosphere,” says Peter Mogensen, the son of Børge Mogensen and the current resident of the house.

The icons

Mogensens furniture iconic designs are still sold today.

Carl Hansen launched several of his designs in 2019 including the Deck chair series, Huntsman chair and Hunting table.

HAY’s reproduction of Børge Mogensen’s classic J41 and J42 chairs. They have a slightly slanted backrest and widely-spaced spindles creating an uncluttered design that offers a timeless quality.

Click to shop Børge Mogensen collection.