the modernist x BDP present - The BDP Talk Series. 3.4 - Denmark in Britain: Modernist Architecture, Design and Lifestyle 1945-1970 by Bruce Peter

Denmark in Britain: Modernist Architecture, Design and Lifestyle 1945-1970 by Bruce Peter 

The Danish Food Centre in Manchester and Danish furniture, homeware and food exhibitions in the Corn Exchange were two local aspects of Denmark’s growing cultural influence in Britain in the decades following the Second World War. This presentation explains how Denmark’s image in Britain changed quickly from being associated primarily with the export of bacon and butter in 1945 to being admired for Modernist architecture and design – so much so that in 1959 Arne Jacobsen was commissioned to design the new St Catherine’s College at Oxford University without competition.

Bruce Peter (b. 1974) is Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art. He is half-Danish and has written extensively about modern architecture, design and naval architecture. He advised on the preparation of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Ocean Liners: Speed and Style exhibition and is presently completing a book and exhibition project for Historic Environment Scotland entitled Art Deco Scotland: Design and architecture in the Jazz Age. His presentation is based upon his recent book Denmark in Britain: Architecture, Design and Lifestyle 1945-1970 (Peter Lang Verlag, 2023)