Clocks and the Rooms We Live In

We all want a room that feels comfortable and personal.

When you imagine furnishing that room, which objects come to mind first?

Furniture such as tables, sofas and cabinets, or textiles such as curtains and rugs, often comes to mind first. These large pieces shape a room, but a clock can also change its character.

We check the time often, so a clock becomes a familiar focal point. Its position and design can have a surprising effect on a room.

Here we consider how to choose a wall clock, with a closer look at designs by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen.

Contents
1. Finding a place for a wall clock
2. Jacobsen and Scandinavian design
3. Bringing Jacobsen's clocks back into production
4. Three distinctive designs
5. A final thought

1. Finding a place for a wall clock

When choosing a wall clock, consider its proportions in relation to the room.

A clock that is too small may be hard to read across the room; one that is too large can dominate the wall. Look for a size that balances visibility with the surrounding furnishings.

As a rough guide, a 15–20 cm clock may suit a compact kitchen, 20–25 cm a small bedroom, and 25–30 cm a larger living room. Viewing distance, eyesight and the amount of clear wall space matter more than a fixed rule.

Use these dimensions as a starting point. Decide where the clock will hang, then consider the viewing distance and nearby furniture before choosing a size.

A simple wall clock can sit comfortably with the room's furnishings without overwhelming them.

The clocks work with many settings: a restrained black-and-white room, warm wooden furniture or an interior full of color.

2. Jacobsen and Scandinavian design

If you enjoy interiors, you have probably come across the term mid-century. It refers, broadly, to the middle of the twentieth century.

In interiors, mid-century design generally refers to work from around the 1940s to the 1960s. Experimentation with forms, materials and ways of living produced many practical, expressive designs that are still admired today.

Arne Jacobsen is one of the designers most closely associated with the mid-century period.

Jacobsen's combination of function, clear forms and attention to materials made him a major figure in Danish design.

The National Bank of Denmark, a major expression of Jacobsen's approach to design

Jacobsen approached buildings and their interiors as a whole, designing lighting, furniture, clocks and even small fittings. This integrated approach, often called total design, remains an important part of his reputation.

3. Bringing Jacobsen's clocks back into production

Some original clocks were designed for specific buildings as part of a complete interior scheme. Surviving early examples can be difficult to find.

Rosendahl worked from original drawings with Jacobsen's former colleague Teit Weyland to bring the clock designs back into production.

The LK Table Clock is part of this revived collection.

The LK Table Clock dates from 1939 and was Jacobsen's earliest clock design. It was made for the electrical manufacturer Lauritz Knudsen.

Jacobsen's practice expanded from architecture into the many objects and interiors that would become central to his legacy.

Station, Bankers and City Hall are among the historic designs recreated for modern homes, each preserving the character of its original dial.

Rosendahl is a Danish design company whose collections bring together visual simplicity and practical everyday use.

4. Three distinctive designs

With that background in mind, let us look at three of Jacobsen's distinctive clock designs.

1. Station

A clock in a public setting must be readable at a glance. Station, a design from the early 1940s, expresses that clarity through a simple, familiar dial.

The dial uses clear numerals that make the time easy to read at a glance. That straightforward character is central to its enduring appeal.

2. Bankers

Bankers was designed for the National Bank of Denmark, one of Jacobsen's major late projects. Its character reflects his integrated approach to architecture, furnishings and small details.

The name BANKERS comes from the bank building for which it was designed.

Each hour marker is made up of twelve small blocks, with the black block indicating the hour. Together they form a subtle spiral around the dial.

3. City Hall

City Hall was created for Rødovre Town Hall in Denmark during the 1950s, the same decade in which Jacobsen developed celebrated furniture such as the Ant chair.

Rødovre Town Hall (1956）

City Hall's restrained dial complements the clean lines of Rødovre Town Hall. The modern edition preserves the spare, carefully proportioned character of the original.