Danish Design at the House

Sydney Opera House is a shrine for architects, who all remember the role of Danish design innovation in creating this country’s most recognisable landmark. For was not Jørn Utzon himself a Dane?

Danish Design at the House is a conceptual exhibition that presents a foyer and six windows displaying some fabulous examples of Danish design. It is free to the public, and will be accessible during the opening hours of the Western Foyer of the Opera House.

From the Opera House: Celebrating 40 page:

“By the time the Opera House was conceived in the 1950s, Danish Modernism, which drew on Denmark’s tradition of cabinet-making and craftsmanship to forge something entirely new, was already sweeping the world. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s masterpiece, and its enduring influence on architecture and structural design worldwide, the Western Foyer of Sydney Opera House will be transformed into an installation inspired by the sparse, elegant modernism of the Danish living room.
The exhibition, curated by Gerard Reinmuth from TERROIR in collaboration with Karen Kjaergaard, with support from the Danish Arts Foundation, will be an integrated part of the Sydney Architecture Festival and features timeless design classics from the Utzon era, together with innovative and experimental contemporary design. Inspired by the Danish tradition of minimalism, functionality and craftsmanship, these new designs are an object lesson in how tradition continues to make the future.”

Most appropriately, the exhibition is co-curated by an Australian and a Dane, and will be officially opened by another Danish/Australian alliance: the Danish Crown Prince Couple, Frederick and Mary, when they visit Sydney in late October.