Mogens Koch (1898-1992) - Danish Architect
Mogens Koch (1898-1992) was a Danish architect and Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in Copenhagen (København) from 1950-68. He was born in Frederiksberg which is a section of Copenhagen. He was married to the Danish weaver Eva Koch.
Prior to teaching at the Royal Academy Koch had the good fortune to be a student of the famous architect and Professor Kaare Klint. Klint challenged Koch to draw everlasting designs; not only furniture architect, but also in the designing of monuments, buildings, textiles and silverware.
Klint was obviously impressed with Mogens Koch talent as a student, and after Koch graduated he went on to be employed at Carl Petersen, Bent Ivar's and Kaare Klint architect studio. Koch worked at this studio from From 1925 until 1932. It was here where he learned to work with the principles behind the Danish functionalism tradition.
The furniture designed by Mogens Koch is some of the most elegant and practical solutions to the demands of comfort, functionality and aesthetics. Koch’s designs have been the central feature of the Rud Rasmussen Company since 1932, and many of his furniture designs are still in production today. In 1934 Koch opened his own studio.
Like Klint, Koch often used previous generations experience in furniture design and implemented these experiences into his own designs. Some of Koch’s best known works include the extension of the Agricultural School at Frederiksberg in Copenhagen. This was a joint project with Steen Eiler Rasmussen. Koch’s released a highly successful sectional bookcase in 1928. A ‘Folding Chair’ which was designed in 1933, but was not manufactured until 1959, yet is still being manufactured today. Koch is also known for renovation of churches.
Mogens Koch’s professional direction changed a little in the 1950’s, and he began spending much of his time renovating churches and other buildings. He was involved in converting the old Frederiks Hospital in Copenhagen into the Art Industry Museum.
Koch's most famous piece of furniture is the square book case which was designed for his own home in 1928. It has a particularly flexible, space saving designed, and it was adjustable for the book formats of the future. Like Kaare Klint, Mogens Koch spent much time studying mathematics and human proportions as well as studying historical furniture items to help his own designs. Koch's practical and natural furniture is usually made of indestructible maintenance free materials. Mogens Koch is one of the few Danish architects who have completely succeeded in implemented Kaare Klint’s teachings of functionalism.
Morgens Koch has been was awarded the Eckersberg medal in 1938, the C. F. Hansen medal in 1963, the Cabinet-makers’ Guild annual prize 1964 and the Danish Furniture Manufacturers Association’s Furniture Award in 1982.
Morgens Koch passed away in 1992.
LastUpdate: 2016-07-11 16:17:31