One of the most significant architects in Denmark’s history and a pioneer of Danish functionalism in Scandinavian, mid-century modern furniture, Vilhelm Lauritzen maintained a lifelong belief that design is an art for the people.
Born in the town of Slagelse in 1894, Lauritzen had an early interest in architecture and design. He graduated from the Sorø Akademi in 1912 and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1922. That year, Lauritzen founded the Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects studio.
Travel to Spain, Greece and throughout Central Europe influenced his architectural work. His first major project was in 1928, when he designed the Daell’s Department Store in Copenhagen. Subsequent notable design projects included the Nørrebro Theater in 1931, the Radiohuset building in 1936 and Copenhagen Airport’s first terminal in 1939, inspired by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier.
Although architecture was among Lauritzen’s chief passions — he was also an avid lepidopterist — he was keenly interested in the furnishings of his projects, designing everything from chairs and settees to door handles and ashtrays. His influential creations include the iconic VL 38 “Radiohus” table and the VL 45 “Radiohus” pendant light — a powerful downward light that provides a gentle illumination through handblown, white opal glass. Both were designed for Danish furniture manufacturer Louis Poulsen in collaboration with Danish designer Finn Juhl. Vilhelm Lauritzen’s lamps and wall sconces, which have obliquely angled lamp heads, were likewise designed in partnership with Poulsen for the Radiohuset building in the 1930s.
Lauritzen remained active in his studio until 1969, overseeing numerous architecture projects in the 1950s, such as the Shellhuset building, Folkets Hus — known today as the VEGA concert hall — and the Danish Embassy in Washington, DC.
Lauritzen died in 1984. His legacy lives on with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects still operating in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district, and his elegant lamps remain in production by Louis Poulsen.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Vilhelm Lauritzen lighting, seating, tables and more.
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Ring Crown' Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Ring Crown' Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen Originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for the construction of the Ra...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL 38' White Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL 38' White Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen The 'VL38' floor lamp was originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for t...
Brass, Steel, Aluminum
Floor Lamp in Brass by Frits Schlegel & Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1940's
By Frits Schlegel, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Floor Lamp in Brass by Frits Schlegel & Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1940's Additional Information: Material: Brass Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by Lyfa in Denmark Dimensions (W ...
Brass
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Aluminum
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquarters of...
Brass
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Small Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Brass
$1,166 / item
Louis Poulsen, Floor Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, floor lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen Measures: Width 135 x height 1200 x length 250(mm), 4.2 kg Material: Base and shade: aluminium. Stem: brass. Cord length: 4 m. Switch: ...
Metal
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL 38 ' Black Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL 38 ' Black Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen The 'VL 38' floor lamp was originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for ...
Brass, Metal
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Table Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquarters of...
Aluminum
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Metal and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Aluminum
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'Vl Studio' Floor or Table Lamp in Brass for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Tilburg, NL
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' floor or table lamp in brass for Louis Poulsen. Designed in the 1940s. New, current production. The VL Studio family derives from a lamp designed by ...
Brass
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Studio' Brass and Glass Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen This innovative lamp is based on Lauritzen's original studio wall lamp for Radiohuset, the headquart...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL 38 ' Black Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL 38 ' Black Floor Lamp for Louis Poulsen The 'VL 38' floor lamp was originally designed in the 1930s by Vilhelm Lauritzen in partnership with Louis Poulsen for ...
Brass, Metal
Brass Desk Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in San Francisco, CA
A table lamp of patinated brass, with adjustable and curved neck. Swiveling top and bottom, adjustable in both height and angle. Switch located on the base.
Brass
Louis Poulsen, Pendant 5-Light by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, pendant 5-light by Vilhelm Lauritzen Measures: Width x height x length (mm) 690 x 233 x 690, 8.4 kg 5 shades. Material: Shades: Mouth-blown, 3-layered, polished opal g...
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Wall Lamp Crown 1 by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, wall lamp crown 1 by Vilhelm Lauritzen Measures: Width 190 x height 233 x length 275(mm), 1.7 kg Material: Shade: Mouth-blown, 3-layered, polished opal glass. Rear hou...
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Wall Lamp Crown 2 by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, wall lamp crown 2 by Vilhelm Lauritzen Measures: Width 425 x height 233 x length 305(mm), 2.8 kg 2 Shades. Material: Shades: Mouth-blown, 3-layered, polished opal glas...
Metal
Louis Poulsen, Wall Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, wall lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen Measures: Width 135 x height 190 x length 290(mm), 1.1 kg Material: Rear housing and shade: aluminum. Arm: brass. Cord length: 3.3 m. Sw...
Metal
$781 / item
H 14.18 in W 7.09 in D 7.09 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen VL 56 Pendant in Chrome for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Tilburg, NL
Vilhelm Lauritzen VL 56 Pendant in Polished Brass for Louis Poulsen. Designed in 1956, current production. The well-known functionalist architect, Vilhelm Lauritzen designed the VL ...
Brass
$3,022
H 5.52 in Dm 16.93 in
‘Kastrup’ Airport wall lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen, Denmark 1930s
By Louis Poulsen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in GORINCHEM, NL
An exceptional example of Danish functionalist lighting, this Kastrup Airport wall lamp was originally designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport in the mid-1930s...
Metal
$9,918 / item
H 6.3 in Dm 16.54 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen two Rare Original “Kastrup” Wall Lamps 1937, Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Forest, BE
2 untouched and patinated trough time lamps by master Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen. The lamps were designed for the Kastrup airport in Copenhagen (1937-39) and produced by Loui...
Aluminum
$740 / item
H 9.45 in W 7.49 in D 11.03 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Ring Crown' Wall Lamp for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Tilburg, NL
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VL Ring Crown' wall lamp for Louis Poulsen. Designed in the 1940s. New, current production. The VL Ring Crown family derives from a...
Brass
$3,500
H 10 in W 16.37 in D 11.87 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen, Wall Light, Brass, Glass, Louis Poulsen, Denmark, 1950s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in High Point, NC
A two-armed, brass and glass wall light designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen and produced by Louis Poulsen, Denmark, c. 1950s. Brass presents with moderate patina as illustrated. Wear cons...
Brass
Louis Poulsen, Floor Lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis Poulsen, floor lamp by Vilhelm Lauritzen Measures: Width 135 x height 1200 x length 250(mm), 4.2 kg Material: Base and shade: aluminium. Stem: brass. Cord length: 4 m. Switch: ...
Metal
Vilhelm Lauritzen Brass Guldpendel Lamp Pendant for Louis Poulsen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Louis Poulsen
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
Brass Guldpendel suspension designed in 1956 by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Louis Poulsen. The perforated metal reflector at the bottom of the lamp is in white brass, the long part is i...
Brass, Aluminum
Sold
H 50.01 in W 8.67 in D 16.54 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen & Frits Schlegel Floor Lamp by Fritzsche’s Glashandel
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare floor lamp designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen & Frits Schlegel. Produced by Fritzsche’s Glashandel in Denmark.
Metal, Nickel
Vilhelm Lauritzen, Floor Lamp with Three Arms, Circa 1960
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in New York, NY
Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894-1984), floor lamp with three arms, circa 1960, excellent condition.
Brass
Floor lamp by Wilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in New York, NY
Wilhelm Lakritzen Frits Schlergel A floor lamp and table/desk lamp with adjustable height. Designed in 1928 Manf. by Fritzche's Glashandel Denmark, ca. 1930 Literature: Vibek...