Northern Light
In a country that is kept in the dark for a large part of the year the citizens need illumination for a great many purposes. That might be the reason why many Danish designers have chosen to make lamps their trademark.
Lighting can be soft or hard - powerful or kept at a low glow. Light has a certain direction and intensity. Oftentimes we seem to forget the importance of light but it does indeed affect our mood and is partly responsible for how we behave.
The Danes are very dependant on illumination, and their craving for classic design is evident in their choice of lighting.
Denmark is celebrated for being a frontrunner in designing lamps and has been so for years, mainly due to the designer Poul Henningsen. Though the designer is no longer among us, his designs live on and recognition of his contribution remains legendary with Danish design. Today a large number of Danish lamp designers enjoy recognition due to his pioneering work.
Poul Henningsen became famous throughout the world due to his cooperation with the electrical manufacturer Louis Poulsen. Today Louis Poulsen is synonymous with the best of Danish lamp designers, whether it’s new rising stars such as Louise Campbell or the classics such as Verner Panton.
Poul Henningsen – PH-5
75 years after the prototype, Poul Henningsen's lamps are more popular than ever. One in particular stands out, namely the PH-5. At auctions, the older, original lamps have become collectors' items and objects of investment. At museums, the PH-lamps hang like pearls on a chain. The genius of the PH-lamp is its glare-free light, which remains strong enough so that one can read and work by it.
The amber colored opal glass is the incarnation of the classic PH-lamp. Poul Henningsen got his inspiration from the petroleum lamp’s golden glow, thus he started designing glass shades in warm colors such as red and yellow.
Poul Henningsen – PH Artichoke (1958)
The 40-year-old PH Artichoke is considered a classical masterpiece. The structure is made of twelve steel arches, and the lamp resembles an artichoke. The light is reflected and directed upon the 72 leaves, until it illuminates the entire artichoke. One can view the fixture from any angle without seeing the actual light source, which is located in the center of the PH Artichoke. It was originally developed for a restaurant in Copenhagen called the Langelinie Pavilion, and the lamps are still there today.
Verner Panton - Flowerpot
FlowerPot was designed in 1968 and was named after the happy days of flower power. It was originally used in dining facilities and at Verner Panton exhibitions. During the last couple of years it has experienced a revival. This is due in part to the stylish design as well as the wide range of color combinations that makes it fit in anywhere.
Over the course of his career, Panton introduced a series of modern lamps with personalities unlike any of his Scandinavian contemporaries. His extraordinary faith in the possibilities of form led him to create a new set of theories about light function and influence.
Arne Jacobsen – AJ Floor
The famous Danish designer Arne Jacobsen is renowned worldwide for his chairs. His talent and designs cover a wide range of furniture, among these are the lamps. Most noteworthy is the AJ Floor, which was designed and featured among a lot of other designs for the SAS Royal Hotel in the center of Copenhagen. The base of the floor lamp has a hole, originally made to accommodate an ash tray. Without the ashtray the hole adds elegance and lightness to the design. The unique vintage quality has made it a modern classic.
Jørn Utzon – Opera P
Jørn Utzon had his famous Sydney Opera House in mind when he developed the Opera pendant. This lamp is as unique in many ways as the architecture of the impressive landmark of Sydney harbor. Utzon's goal was to create a pendant that utilizes the multi-shade principle in new ways. Utzon's passion for architectural detail is clearly seen in the four mounting screws that collect the metal shades at the base of the pendant. The light streams softly and evenly from the spaces between the shades.
PLH Design – LP Charisma King
LP Charisma has in its short lifetime received several design awards. In 2002, it was awarded the Danish Design Award and the Good Design Award in Chicago. LP Charisma is self-illuminating and constructed in a manner that minimizes glare. LP Charisma has a design expression that makes it suitable for classical as well as contemporary architecture, and the design is unpretentious enough to be repeated in a large number of spacious rooms.
Louise Campbell – Campbell 275
Louise Campbell is considered the newest Danish star within lamp designs. She has already received the prestigious gold International Forum Design Award in 2005 for the Campbell 275. The lamp offers classic shape with a modern twist. The construction from blown glass and embellished sandblasted stripes makes it suitable for positioning over dining tables, hallways, conference rooms, and retail areas, etc.
February 2008