Scandinavian Modern

スカンジナビアン・モダン / late 1940s–1960s / Style / Scandinavian Design

Joins function and mass production to the warmth of natural materials, curves that follow the body, and clear usable form.

Scandinavian Modern — Aalto Vase (CC BY 4.0) · © Unknown author Unknown author
Aalto Vase (CC BY 4.0) · CC BY 4.0 · © Unknown author Unknown author
Scandinavian Modern — Wegner, Wishbone Chair (CC BY 4.0) · © Hans Wegner
Wegner, Wishbone Chair (CC BY 4.0) · CC BY 4.0 · © Hans Wegner
Scandinavian Modern — Henningsen, PH lamp (CC BY 3.0) · © Poul Henningsen
Henningsen, PH lamp (CC BY 3.0) · CC BY 3.0 · © Poul Henningsen

At a glance

Visual cues

  • Lucid function
  • Natural materials
  • Body-following curves
  • Restrained color

Best used for

  • Furniture and lighting meant for decades of use, designed for mass production and the body
  • Interiors where people stay for hours, such as libraries and schools

Use this style

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Dictionary entry

Type
Quiet sans at modest size that never competes with the object
Composition
Low horizontals, generous windows, and room to walk between the furniture
Material
Pale wood, teak, bent plywood, wool, and milky opal glass
Caution
Copying only the warmth of materials leaves a Nordic surface, so resolve comfort and manufacturing, and check the climate, the welfare state, the craft and industry link, and differences between countries.
Further study
Alvar Aalto / Arne Jacobsen / Jens Risom / Greta Magnusson Grossman

Related entries

Often confused with

More from Scandinavian Design

Continue through styles in the same Scandinavian Design family, prioritised by shared effects.

Browse all Scandinavian Design entries

Cite this entry

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Link
https://indexstyle.org/styles/scandinavian-modern
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[Scandinavian Modern — IndexStyle](https://indexstyle.org/styles/scandinavian-modern)
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