Danish Architecture Center honors pioneering 20th-century designer Nanna Ditzel in celebratory event
Nanna Ditzel, a visionary furniture designer who challenged societal expectations in the mid-20th century, is the focus of a captivating exhibition at the Danish Architecture Center (DAC). Titled 'Nanna Ditzel: Breaking Free', the exhibition runs until 11 May 2025, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore Ditzel's groundbreaking work.
The exhibition emphasises Ditzel's relevance in contemporary design discussions, with a focus on sustainability, flexibility, and inclusivity. Senior curator Pernille Stockmarr notes that Ditzel's work serves as an important reminder of how design can influence everyday life, particularly in addressing modern challenges such as climate change, urbanization, and the need for sustainable solutions.
Ditzel's 'Villette' furniture landscape, created at her London studio Interspace, is one of the many works showcased in the exhibition. The exhibition also features the 'Hanging Egg' chair, the multifunctional 'Trisse' chair, and the 'Fairy Tale Room', originally developed for the children's library in Lyngby.
The 'Fairy Tale Room' reflects Ditzel's commitment to nurturing imagination and creativity in children through design. This commitment to inclusivity and freedom of movement is a recurring theme throughout Ditzel's work.
In addition to the physical exhibition, 'Nanna Ditzel: Breaking Free' is also available online at dac.dk. The exhibition's website offers a newsletter for daily inspiration, escapism, and design stories from around the world.
In 2019, Danish brand Mater reissued a set of garden furniture designed by Nanna Ditzel and her husband JΓΈrgen Ditzel, originally launched in 1955. The reissued furniture was made from ocean-waste plastic, and Mater won a Design Award for this reimagining.
The exhibition offers a hands-on engagement with Ditzel's modular and flexible designs, inviting visitors to experience firsthand the innovative solutions that continue to inspire architects and designers today. Ditzel's work serves as a testament to the power of design in shaping our everyday lives and addressing the challenges of the modern world.
So, if you're a design enthusiast, a history buff, or simply someone who appreciates innovative thinking, be sure to visit 'Nanna Ditzel: Breaking Free' before it closes on 11 May 2025.
