Fritz Hansen celebrates 150 years with pavilion by Henning Larsen

In partnership with Fritz Hansen

For 3 Days of Design (15 - 17 June 2022), Fritz Hansen takes over the garden of the Designmuseum Danmark (set to reopen on 19 June after a two-year restoration), joining forces with architecture firm Henning Larsen to create a specially designed pavilion in conversation with the leafy surroundings. 

A sustainable design

Designed with a distinctively Nordic approach with particular attention to daylight and natural materials, the pavilion is a celebration of Fritz Hansen’s 150-year anniversary and a fitting example of the sustainable design thinking shared by the company and the architecture practice. 

‘Celebrating the 150-year anniversary of Fritz Hansen, we wanted to create a spatial experience that makes a sustainable home for the furniture it exhibits,’ says Henning Larsen partner Eva Ravnborg. ‘The pavilion is inspired by the garden it is situated in, creating a hybrid space with fluid transitions between inside and out.’

The pavilion’s minimalist design is characterised by a shell-like solid wood structure, featuring a slanted roof and walls made of a modular motif that conveys a sense of connection between the indoor and surrounding spaces, conversing with the greenery of the garden. The transparent material inserted between the wooden slats lets in the daylight, bathing the space in soft light by day, and glowing in the evening darkness. 

With circular design principles in mind, the architects created an installation that is easy to disassemble, with the idea of materials being repurposed in the ongoing reconstruction of Fritz Hansen’s Allerød headquarters. 

150 years of Fritz Hansen

As well as a stage for creative talks and design conversations, the pavilion also displays Fritz Hansen’s anniversary collection, introduced at the Copenhagen design event for the first time. The collection is a celebration of Fritz Hansen’s design heritage, with previously unreleased pieces by Poul Kjærholm and new editions of Arne Jacobsen’s icons in exclusive upholstery options by Raf Simons for Kvadrat and Sørensen Leather.

At the same time, Fritz Hansen also unveils its latest lighting project, the ‘Oneline’ pendant created in collaboration with Danish artist Kasper Kjeldgaard, cementing the brand’s contemporary lighting endeavours. 

‘We wanted to celebrate Fritz Hansen’s past, while also looking ahead to the future,’ says Christian Andresen, creative experience director at Fritz Hansen, commenting on the pavilion design. ‘Henning Larsen has a strong track record as a leading sustainability-thinking studio. We both have a holistic approach to design, and a similar taste in materials and creative expression, so our collaboration felt natural.’

Unveiled during 3 Days of Design, the pavilion will remain in situ at the museum’s garden until autumn 2022, as a stage for cultural initiatives, summer schools, exhibitions and workshops, connecting the museum with the local creative community.

INFORMATION
Designmuseum Danmark, Bredgade 68, 1260 Copenhagen
June 15-17, 10AM-6PM
fritzhansen.com