The Danish Chair: A Journey Through Danish Design History

Designmuseum Danmark's Exhibition Showcases Danish Design's Global Impact

The Danish Chair is a wunderkammer of chairs, a comprehensive display of the museum's vast collection. The exhibition narrates the story of Danish design's transformation into an international mega-brand, known as Danish Modern. Visitors are taken on a scenic journey through various types of chairs, each representing a chapter of the 20th-century Danish success story.

The exhibition's unique properties lie in its immersive design. The chairs are displayed in translucent white acrylic boxes, creating a sense of curiosity and reflection. The boxes are mounted on a steel structure, independent of the museum's walls and ceiling, preserving the integrity of the historical building. The lighting setup, controlled by movement sensors, adds to the overall atmospheric experience. As visitors move, the lights progressively come on, awakening the chairs from their slumber.

The exhibition's realization was a feat of design and engineering. The black netting textile ceiling conceals all electrical communications, while the LED light tubes mounted on the steel structure provide diffused background lighting. Each display box features two adjustable spots to ensure the right light setup for each chair. Information panels are cleverly integrated into vertical drawers between the boxes.

The Danish Chair exhibition opened in December 2016 and has since become a permanent fixture at Designmuseum Danmark. The exhibition was the result of extensive research into the relationship between visitors and museums. A team of museum experts and communication specialists, along with exhibition designer Boris Berlin, conducted a comprehensive survey of European museums to develop the exhibition's cultural and design historical message.

Despite the challenges of creating an interactive, participative museum ambiance while preserving the "do not touch" condition, the team successfully delivered an engaging, informative, and visually stunning exhibition. The Danish Chair is a testament to the power of Danish design and its enduring impact on the global design landscape.

The exhibition's success was recognized with a Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2018. This prestigious award is granted to outstanding, trendsetting creations that reflect extraordinary excellence and significantly impact the world with their desirable characteristics.