The city hall of Søllerød has constituted one of Denmark ́s most elaborate buildings since the middle of

the 20th century. With its underplayed interaction with nature and the two parallel bodies of the building

integrated with one another, it is one of the very first examples of the concept of soft, Nordic functionalism.

Inside, every piece of furniture and every room and hallway is designed on a human scale – in order to be

relatable and to create a holistic experience. Looking at the time of the construction, the city hall also reflects

a thirst for the future – one that is technological as well as societal. This combination is obvious when you

consider the two architects behind it– that is, Flemming Lassen and Arne Jacobsen.

Flemming Lassen contributed

a rare feeling of homeliness to

every project he was involved

in, showing his loyalty to soft,

Nordic functionalism and its

focus on aesthetic detail.

The pendant lamp designed for the city hall of Søllerød is

in itself a very nice example of how an official building with

human-scale rooms and features can be both intimate and

informal and at the same time slightly solemn: the perfectly

rounded, almost-balloon shape harks back to childhood

and something light and untroubled, while the majestic, matt

opal glass with its precise cover of steel draws associations

in a more formal direction.