Danish Design at Sea

In the twentieth century the Danish merchant fleet expanded greatly to become internationally known for its modernity and efficiency. Ashore, meanwhile, Denmark came to embrace the Modern Movement in architecture and design. 

Unlike elsewhere, however, Danish modernism placed emphasis upon tradition and craftsmanship and so when the leading Danish shipping companies began to employ prominent architects to design their new vessels' passenger accommodation, it was this approach that most often was applied.

Here, the story of the development of Danish architect-designed ship interiors is told for the first time. The work is based upon over twenty years of research by the author and includes interviews with key archtictects who were directly involved in designing shipboard interiors and furniture between the 1930s and the 1990s, as well as extensive archival research.

The interiors of Danish ships of the mid-twentieth century were exceptionally elegant  and glamorous and the they reflected the best of a national creative culture that is nowadays widely admired around the world.

Bruce Peter is Professor of Design History at Glasgow School of Art. He is half-Danish and has written extensively about modern ship design in the Nordic region and elsewhere. He also advised on the preparation of the Victoria & Albert Museum/Peabody Essex Museum Exhibition "Ocean Liners: Speed and Style".

Content:Foreword.   Introduction Chapter 1 Sea travel, ship interiors and design reform in nineteenth century Denmark Chapter 2 Early-twentieth century ship interiors designed by Carl Brummer Chapter 3 The emergence of the Modern Movement and its effects on ship interior design Chapter 4 Ship interiors designed by Kay Fisker Chapter 5 Ship interiors designed by Palle Suenson Chapter 6 Ship interiors of the mid-1950s by shipyard designers Chapter 7 Ship interiors of the 1950s designed by Kay Kørbing Chapter 8 Shipyard-designed interiors of the late-1950s and early-1960s Chapter 9 Danish ferry interiors for private-sector operators Chapter 10 Kay Kørbing’s ship interiors of the mid-1960s Chapter 11 The first purpose-built Caribbean cruise ships Chapter 12 The Scandinavian second generation of ferries Chapter 13 Ship interiors of the 1970s by Kay Kørbing Chapter 14 Shipyard-designed interiors of the 1970s Conclusion Endnotes Bibliography Index