Fostering Learning through Design
Arne Jacobsen's Munkegaard School
In the late 1940s, the architectural philosophy behind school design was undergoing a major transformation that strayed from the traditional, multi-story institutions seen across Europe. Embracing this changing philosophy and concerned with creating an environment that fostered learning, Arne Jacobsen set out designing plans for the Munkegaard School in Gentolfe, Denmark. Completed in in 1957, the school housed over 1000 students and was spread over a single-story, incorporating open courtyards, floor to ceiling windows and adjacent classrooms that fostered a sense of community and learning. Jacobsen designed every aspect of the school—from the chairs, desks, fittings and outdoor spaces—to be uncomplicated and functional. The children’s chairs and teacher’s desk offered here exemplify this standard as sleek, simple designs that withstood the test of time and several hundred students.
Aerial photo of the Munkegaard School, c. 1957
