Designed by Danish visionary Poul Henningsen and manufactured by Louis Poulsen, the PH series of lamps have withstood the test of time with their elegant design
Peep through the windows of Copenhagen apartments and restaurants, and you’d be able to spot at least one Poul Henningsen-designed pendant lamp hanging from the ceiling. A renowned Danish architect, designer and author, Henningsen—who often went by his acronym PH—is often celebrated as one of the leading figures in Danish modern designs.
It’s interesting that the design pioneer, renowned for his innovative lighting designs, grew up in an era without electric lighting. Born in a small Danish town in 1894, Henningsen’s world was lit up by gas lamps. As he grew older, however, electricity soon became more widespread during the turn of the century.
Today, the lamps continue to be Louis Poulsen’s most successful designs. In Singapore, the lamps retail at Grafunkt and Xtra.
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Gas lamps were replaced by incandescent bulbs, which became the standardised form of lighting in the streets, homes, and stores. Henningsen was notably displeased with the design shift, calling the new bulbs “muffins” and noting that the purpose they served was more utilitarian rather than aesthetic.
The designer was soon inspired to create one of his greatest designs—the three-shade lamp series—after his mother complained about the harsh, unflattering light of the new bulbs. Henningsen desired to create a lamp system that infuses an interior with 100 percent glare-free illumination.
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