Finn Juhl’s House

Many years ago, I read in an interior design magazine about the former home of Finn Juhl, located just north of Copenhagen..Even though I grew up not far from there, I had no idea that Finn Juhl, one of the most prominent of the Danish mid-century modern designers, had built a house for himself and his first wife (Inge Marie Skaarup) there.

When I saw the photos of the villa, I was mesmerised, and ever since I have dreamt of visiting. 

What was it about the house that I found so appealing? It’s not a big house, 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, 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. 

Recently, I was finally able to see the house in real life. For almost two decades, I had been thinking about this visit. One of the things that I learned from studying the house is how closely related Scandinavian modern design and traditional Japanese craftsmanship are.

The house was filled with Japanese items, and the sliding doors were clearly inspired by Japanese architecture. What has been added to the Japanese way of thinking is a sense of kindness and 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 2003. It’s easy to understand why – I don’t think I’ve ever, during all my travels, have seen a house with this much character, while remaining light and carefree. It sounds strange describing a house like a person, but there’s no better way to phrase 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. Though trained as an architect, he is mainly remembered 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