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 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Oak Chrome and Oil for Carl Hansen & Son
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Oak Chrome and Oil for Carl Hansen & Son. The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm comm...
Chrome
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oak Oil and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oak Oil and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitmen...
Brass
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Oiled Oak Chrome & Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Oiled Oak Chrome & Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commit...
Chrome
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oak Oil and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oak Oil and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitment...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitme...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oak Soap and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Oak Soap and Leather for Carl Hansen & Son. The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitm...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son
By Vilhelm Lauritzen, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Glendale, CA
Vilhelm Lauritzen 'VLA61' Chair in Mahogany and Fabric for Carl Hansen & Son. The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commitme...
Brass
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Steel, Oak & Leather for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Steel, Oak & Leather for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commi...
Chrome
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Oak with Black Frame for Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Glendale, CA
Lauritzen 'VLA26 Vega' Chair in Black Oak with Black Frame for Carl Hansen & Son The story of Danish Modern begins in 1908 when Carl Hansen opened his first workshop. His firm commi...
Chrome
Musician Chairs with Adjustable Seat and Back in Oak by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1942
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Musician Chairs with Adjustable Seat and Back in Oak, Brass and Niger Leather by Vilhelm Lauritzen, 1942 Additional Information: Material: Oak, brass a...
Brass
'Musician's chair' with frame in patinated oak by Vilhelm Lauritzen
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
'Musician's chair' with a frame in patinated oak and an adjustable seat and back in patinated niger leather. Designed in 1942 by Vilhelm Lauritzen.
Leather, Oak
Pair of Very Rare Vilhelm Lauritzen Music Chair , Denmark
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Praha, CZ
- Oak wood, brass and fabric - Creation date: 1942 Music chair - Model designed for the National Broadcasting House - Copenhagen - good original condition - sturdy and stable - nee...
Brass
$6,400 / set
H 29.93 in W 20.08 in D 7.45 in
Italian Chairs in Fabric and Chrome by Giovanni Carini for Planula
By Planula, Giovanni Carini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Stylish Italian Libellula chairs in fabric and chromed steel by Giovanni Carini for Planula 1970s. Good conditions.
Chrome
Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn 'Sawbuck' Dining Chair in Teak
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn, 'Sawbuck' dining chair, model CH29, teak, beige fabric, Denmark, design 1952 Hans Wegner's chair exemplifies a solid construction, despite its...
Fabric, Teak
$9,000 / set
H 30 in W 18.5 in D 18 in
Set of 8 Original Hans Wegner Oak CH23 Chairs by Carl Hansen & Son
By Carl Hansen & Søn, Carl Hansen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bring home the authentic mid-century modern Danish furniture that has become the envy of the design world with this exquisite set of original Hans Wegner CH-23 oak & rattan dining ch...
Wicker, Rattan, Wood, Hardwood, Oak
$707 / item
H 28.75 in W 21.66 in D 20.08 in
Wishbone Chair Model CH24 By Hans J. Wegner For Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Lejre, DK
The Wishbone chairs, model CH24, designed by Hans J. Wegner and manufactured by Carl Hansen & Son, are exemplary pieces of Scandinavian Modern furniture. Crafted from black painted w...
Papercord, Wood
Hans Wegner Wing Lounge Chair for Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in San Antonio, TX
Hans Wegner Wing Lounge Chair CH445 for Carl Hansen & Son. Hans J. Wegner’s CH445 chair, also known as the Wing Chair, is a fully upholstered easy chair t...
Stainless Steel
$2,950
H 34.6 in W 22.8 in D 21.6 in
2020 KK37580 Dining Chair by Kaare Klint for Carl Hansen in Walnut & Leather
By Kaare Klint, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a KK37580 Large "Red Chair" designed by Kaare Klint, produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a solid oiled walnut frame and a tan leather ...
Leather, Walnut, Foam
$4,500
H 29.75 in W 21.25 in D 20 in
Hans J. Wegner Wishbone chairs, set of four for Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Skokie, IL
Set of four wishbone chairs in oak and paper cord designed by Hans J Wegner. Great original condition.
Cord, Oak
$4,600 / set
H 28.75 in W 22 in D 16 in
Set of 4 Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son CH-33 Chairs in Teak
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Seattle, WA
Set of for Hans J. Wegner "CH33" from the early Carl Hansen & Sons production in the 1960s in teak, with plywood seating. in original condition, beautiful patina. All stamped un...
Teak
$21,351 / set
H 31.89 in W 20.48 in D 19.69 in
Hans J. Wegner Dining Chairs in Teak Model CH-31 by Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
This is a very rare set of CH31 dining chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1956. These chairs come from a significant era in design history, combining sharp, classic lines with an o...
Cane, Teak
$10,944 / set
H 29.53 in W 20.48 in D 19.69 in
Set of 6 CH30 Chairs by Hans J. Wegner in Black Leather, Carl Hansen & Søn, 1952
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An exceptional set of six CH30 dining chairs designed by Hans J. Wegner in 1952 and produced by Carl Hansen & Søn, finely restored and reupholstered in luxurious black Sudden ful...
Leather, Foam, Oak, Teak
$875
H 30.9 in W 19.8 in D 19.8 in
2021 CH23 Dining Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen in Oak & Walnut
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a CH23 Dining Chair designed by Hans Wegner and produced by Carl Hansen & Son in Denmark. The chair is made with a solid oiled oak frame, oiled walnut back, and natural paper...
Papercord, Oak, Walnut
$1,895
H 29 in W 22 in D 18 in
Expertly Restored - Hans J. Wegner CH-33 Teak Side Chair for Carl Hansen & Søn
By Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & Søn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hans J. Wegner CH-33 teak side chair for Carl Hansen & Søn Designer Hans J. Wegner. ______________________________________________________________ T...
Wood, Teak
Sold
H 32.29 in W 16.93 in D 22.05 in
Pair of Danish adjustable orchestra musician chairs with backrests
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in DK
This pair of very rare chairs was designed in 1942 by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the iconic Radiohuset building in Copenhagen. They are designed for the musicians / the orchestra. They ha...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen Musician Chair Produced in Denmark
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare musician chair with adjustable seat and back designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen. Produced in Denmark.
Brass
Rare Chair by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Radiohuset, Denmark, 1940s
By Fritz Hansen, Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Vilhelm Lauritzen - Fritz Hansen - Radiohuset - Scandinavian Modern A chair in bent beech designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Radiohuset, National Broadcasting House, in Copenhagen. T...
Beech
Sold
H 32.68 in W 17.33 in D 20.87 in
Vilhelm Lauritzen Musician Chair in Oak, Designed for Radiohuset, Denmark, 1950s
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in The Hague, NL
This rare chair was designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for the iconic Radiohuset building in Copenhagen in the 1950s. The chair was specifically designed for the orchestra musicians to be...
Brass
Vilhelm Lauritzen Radiohuset Chair
By Vilhelm Lauritzen
Located in London, GB
Chair in bent and laminated beech designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen for Radiohuset in Copenhagen. The Danish architect designed the building as well as the interiors, for which he collab...
Beech