POUL KJÆRHOLM & FRITZ HANSEN

A trained cabinetmaker who completed his studies at the Danish School of Arts and Crafts, Poul Kjærholm had a particular interest in construction materials; especially steel, which he considered a material deserving the artistic respect that was commonly awarded to wood. Poul Kjærholm initiated a collaboration with furniture manufacturer Ejvind Kold Christensen in 1955, and that collaboration continued for the rest of Kjærholm’s life with the two families remaining close to this very day.

A PK Lounge

Poul Kjærholm considered himself to be a furniture architect, language that reflected his strong belief that furniture plays a critical role in spatial experience and design.

We invite you to sit down and experience the pleasure of using Poul Kjærholm’s furniture, surrounded by home accessories from his era.

Two years after the designer’s passing, the Kjærholm trustees entrusted Fritz Hansen with the production and sales of ‘The Kjærholm Collection’– designs developed by Poul Kjærholm from 1951 to 1980.

Fritz Hansen is honoured to continue production to this day and to distribute Poul Kjærholm’s furniture to architects and private customers around the world.

Design Visions

“I would rather express the character of the materials than my own character.”

POUL KJÆRHOLM ON MATERIALS

On discovering a genius: Poul Kjærholm

Though Poul Kjærholm was a trained cabinetmaker, he began exploring materials beyond wood when he attended The School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. At the time, Danish furniture designers usually opted for wood as their primary material. Yet Kjærholm found that he preferred steel, which he combined with a wide range of materials such as leather, wicker, marble, and (of course) wood.

In 1951, at only 22 years, Poul Kjærholm designed the PK25™ chair (also known as the Element chair) for his graduation project. The work caught the eye of Søren Hansen, grandson of Fritz Hansen and co-director of the company. Hansen saw enormous potential in the young designer and invited him to join Fritz Hansen.

PK25™ ‘Element’ chair by Poul Kjærholm, 1951
PK25™ drawings by Poul Kjærholm

PK25™ ‘Element’ chair by Poul Kjærholm, 1951

PK25™ drawings by Poul Kjærholm

The Furniture Architect

Iconic Danish designer Poul Kjærholm had a rare aesthetic vision. Often referred to as a "furniture architect", his works are timeless, meticulously dedicated to detail and crafted in the best materials.

Every Kjærholm piece expresses his rare sense of aesthetics, proportions and shapes. His furniture fits the interiors, defines spaces and creates a sublime atmosphere uniquely linked to Kjærholm's holistic design typology and thinking: clear, simple and elegant.

Contact Us

+45 70 80 70 90info@fritzhansen.com

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POUL KJÆRHOLM & FRITZ HANSEN

A PK Lounge

Poul Kjærholm considered himself to be a furniture architect, language that reflected his strong belief that furniture plays a critical role in spatial experience and design.

Design Visions