If you follow me on instagram you might have seen that I was in Copenhagen for a few days last week. I was invited by Carl Hansen & Son for a two day press tour and the first day was all about their collaboration with Vilhelm Lauritzen architects.

Vilhelm Lauritzen was one of Denmark’s most influential architects and a father of Danish Modernism. Today, many of his projects remain as lasting examples of a new and revolutionary approach to architecture in which form followed function. Throughout his career, he maintained that architecture should be an applied art that serves all, not just the privileged few. Among Lauritzen’s most famous and acclaimed works are Copenhagen Airport’s first terminal (1939), which is now known as the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal, Radiohuset broadcasting building in Frederiksberg (1945), Vega music venue in Copenhagen (1956), and the Danish Embassy in Washington D.C. (1960).

During the tour we were invited to visit and admire three of his designed buildings. The Terminal , Radiohuset and we started at the Vega music venue where we also attended the presentation of the re-released VLA26P Vega chair. Vilhelm Lauritzen created the Vega Chair in 1956 when he built the modernist masterpiece Vega in Copenhagen. The stackable upholstered chair is profiling Vilhelm Lauritzen’s aesthetic signature and has previously only been found in Vega's concert halls. This elegant chair - expertly crafted in a mix of steel, wood and textile or leather - is now being put into production at Carl Hansen & Son in partnership with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, who are celebrating their 100 year anniversary in 2022 and will be available in six variants.

In the highlights of the stories. of my instagram account (@elveravanschaik) you will find more images of the tour. The amazing buildings, the presentation of the Vega chair , a short impression of our visit at the TVA office and our great visit at Carl Hansen HQ and the factory where we saw the whole process how the CH24 wishbone chair is made - Elvera

“Vega, which during construction in 1956 was named Folkets Hus (the People’s House), was originally created by Vilhelm Lauritzen as a universal meeting place for the labour movement, but the modernist building was transformed into a concert venue in 1996 after an extensive restoration and has since then set the tone for the cultural life of Copenhagen. Lauritzen designed everything for the building with great perfectionism – from the chairs, tables, wood panels, friezes and chandeliers to the fixtures, door handles and sockets. For Lauritzen, it was the small details that made the biggest difference, bringing the whole space together. Vilhelm Lauritzen’s uncompromising attention to detail is also evident in the stackable VLA26 Vega Chair, which appears in an elegant mix of steel, wood and textile or leather. The precise upholstery on the seat and the back gives the chair a slender and refined look. For a more reduced appearance, the chair is also crafted without carlhansen.com upholstery, bringing the tactile oak into full focus. The dynamic curve of the back of the chair gives it a distinctive character, and the legs are elegantly finished with wooden feet that give the chair exceptional craftsman-like detail.
Knud Erik Hansen, CEO at Carl Hansen & Son, says: “Vilhelm Lauritzen’s architecture and design are part of the Danish cultural heritage and perception of functionalism, and we’re honoured to be the first to present his VLA26 Vega Chair to a global audience. He continues: “At Carl Hansen & Son, we have an extensive portfolio of Danish design masterpieces from the twentieth century, which Lauritzen’s uncompromising approach to aesthetics and craftsmanship matches perfectly” Anne Møller Sørensen, partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, says: “The VLA26 Vega Chair is Danish design at its best. It shows Vilhelm Lauritzen’s signature style – a functionalist design that is almost classic uncompromising Lauritzen details and is so well-proportioned that it’s simply comfortable to sit on. In partnership with Carl Hansen & Son, we’re proud that the VLA26 Vega Chair can now be put into production in the quality it deserves.” Carl Hansen & Son

Carl Hansen & Son x Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects