Behind the scenes at Louis Poulsen
This June, Nest went on a tour of everything Louis Poulsen in Copenhagen. Our Purchasing & Brand Liaison Manager Kasia and Product Editor Zara spent three days absorbing Danish culture and learning about this iconic Danish lighting brand.
Here are their favourite moments.
A brand that’s embedded into Danish culture, everywhere you look in Copenhagen you will find Louis Poulsen. In homes, restaurants, hotels and even on the street, the iconic lighting brand has been illuminating homes across the world with glare-free light since 1926. So, when we were invited to join the brand in Copenhagen, how could we say no?
Designs to shape light
Owing a great deal to the iconic designer Poul Henningsen, Louis Poulsen’s legacy has been built on the Danish lighting principles of uplifting living spaces with a sense of warmth. Aware of the huge importance that lighting has on urban life, Henningsen sought a way to subdue the harsh glare of the original electrical bulbs and create light sources that enhanced the mood of a space - changing the world of lighting design forever.
After a very early flight to Denmark, Kasia & Zara arrived at the Louis Poulsen factory in Vejen, just a few miles outside of Copenhagen. Beginning with a masterclass into the Danish way of lighting the home, the team learned how Louis Poulsen’s products are designed to create ‘islands of light’ within interiors.
Believing that the shape of light is so important in creating spaces, Louis Poulsen create products that give out an indirect, soft and inviting light and that live harmoniously within the spaces they define. Crafting this indirect light is a delicate process, and it was fascinating to see such craftsmanship in action during a tour of the factory.
Expert craftsmanship
In training for up to three years, Louis Poulsen’s expert craftsmen manufacture their lighting using a mixture of hand-craftsmanship and high-tech machinery. From the hand-shaping of the iconic PH 5 shade to the precise polishing of individual PH Artichoke petals, the team witnessed raw materials being transformed into a range of iconic forms in the brand’s factory.
Designed by Oivind Slaatto, the stunning Patera is a modern reimagining of the chandelier, bringing a glowing focal point to any room it features in. In one of the most eye-catching processes in the factory tour, Patera pendants were assembled by hand – turning individual curved plastic shapes into a spherical globe inspired by the Fibonacci sequence. Once assembled, each globe is finished in either white or a reflective silver foil.
Meeting the designer
Alongside visiting the brand, their factory and their beautiful new Copenhagen showroom - this trip was a chance to meet one of the designers who work with Louis Poulsen. Kasia & Zara were lucky enough to get a chance to visit the Copenhagen summer house and studio of Danish designer Mads Odgärd. In its beautiful countryside setting on the outskirts of Copenhagen, the designer’s home was a masterclass in simple styling.
Taking the group on a tour of his beautiful home and studio, design classics such as Carl Hansen's Wishbone Chairs were mixed in amongst a variety of his own furniture designs which include the Above Pendant for Louis Poulsen. Outside, under the Danish sunshine, Odgärd gave the team an insight into the design process behind the Above Pendant and a sneak peek at some of his future designs.
A huge thank you to the team at Louis Poulsen for a fascinating insight into the brand, its history, its designers and its expert production process.
Do you have a favourite spot in the Danish capital? Share your design inspired top travel tips with us over on Instagram @nest.co.uk. We are always looking for secret spots to visit…
