As one of the fathers of Danish modernism, Vilhelm Lauritzen’s genius extends beyond the world of architecture and into interior design. The VLA26P Vega Chair was originally designed to take pride of place in the Vega Concert Hall in Copenhagen, its distinctive form enhancing the surroundings of that historic venue. The chair’s curved shape makes it exceptionally comfortable, while the addition of an upholstered seat enhances the tactility of the wood and steel frame.
Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894–1984) was one of the most significant architects in the history of Denmark; he was the trail-blazing figurehead of Danish functionalism. A number of his buildings – Nørrebro Theatre, Daells Varehus department store, Radiohuset and the first airport built in Kastrup – represented the concentrated essence of contemporary life. Other significant buildings to stem from Lauritzen’s drawing board include Folkets Hus better known today as the Vega concert venue, the Shellhuset building and the Danish embassy in Washington.
Throughout his life, Vilhelm Lauritzen adhered to the principle that architecture is applied art – with equal emphasis on both ‘art’ and ‘applied’. “No life without aesthetics” was another one of Vilhelm Lauritzen’s firmly held beliefs.
