Bernt Santesson

Life is his greatest source of inspiration and the Troll Church near Nibe, Denmark his favourite place. And he believes it is easier to treat people with courtesy than the opposite. Bernt Santesson was born in Aalborg, Denmark and is a North Jutlander in the best sense of the word. Painstaking, calm and friendly.

He is a qualified lithographic draughtsman and graphic designer, and today runs the Santesson Graphic Design Studio in Aalborg. Apart from this, he has a long career behind him at various advertising agencies in Danish cities like Copenhagen, Herning and Aalborg. With this background one might initially think that Bernt Santesson would prefer paper to any other material, but it is only one of his three favourites: Wood, paper and stone. Fortunately. For his design of the cross-back garden bench in wood has over the years helped define Danish quality garden furniture design as we know it today. The inspiration for the bench comes from the historical Danish poet and painter Holger Drachmann’s house in Skagen, Denmark, and Santesson’s re-interpretation of it has become a quintessential symbol of Danish summer and pleasurable hours in the garden.