Louis Poulsen kicks off 2025 with exciting news from one of Denmark’s most renowned designers, the architect Vilhelm Lauritzen. This spring, his timeless and much-loved VL 45 Radiohus Pendant will be introduced in two beautiful new colours, featuring four layers of mouth-blown glass and untreated brass with fine hairlines.
Vilhelm Lauritzen’s VL 45 Radiohus Pendant has never been more relevant with its poetic shape, perfect, uniform light and longevity. The design has always oozed quiet luxury, before that was even a thing, and it has a way of discreetly lifting any space, be it a kitchen, hallway or living room.
There is good reason for this. His name is Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen (1894-1984). He was not only famous for his modernist buildings and an authority in Danish architecture's golden age, but also a lighting expert. He prioritised designing the fixtures and fittings for his buildings himself, and several of his lamps have become design icons that remain popular to this day.
Complementing the PH lamp
The VL 45 Radiohus Pendant was initially known as ‘The Office Lamp’, when Lauritzen designed it for the Radio House (Radiohuset), the Danish Broadcasting Corporation headquarters, his highly acknowledged total artwork in Copenhagen, which was officially inaugurated in 1945, just after the end of World War II.
Lauritzen recognized the need for another take on the classic spherical pendant and the popular PH lamp. He was acquainted with Poul Henningsen and often publically discussed lighting and lamp shapes with him in LP-Nyt, the Louis Poulsen magazine, where Henningsen served as editor.
With the elegant VL 45 Radiohus Pendant design, Vilhelm Lauritzen created an expressive alternative to the PH lamp, perfectly combining a downward and precise working light with an overall soft and more diffused, glare-free light.
Poetic and practical
Like other modernist architects of the time, Vilhelm Lauritzen focused on function. He became one of Denmark’s most innovative architects, and form follows function became a mantra of modernism.
The glossy opal glass lamp draws you in with its simplistic beauty and provides a pleasant glare-free light, while also being highly practical. It is easy to change the light bulb and to clean. Every aspect of the pendant is well thought out, making it a popular choice for distinctive interiors today, regardless of the style. In the 1950s, it was photographed in the home of architect duo Charles and Ray Eames in Los Angeles.
More styling choices
The VL 45 Radiohus Pendant will soon be available in two additional colours alongside the original Opal White and the Pale Rose versions. The pendant will come in glossy Pale Yellow and Amber, providing further options for styling and creating warmer and cosier lighting. Discover how they completely transform in light and colour when turned on and off. Both options feature original untreated brushed brass fittings, which will patinate over time, enhancing the pendant's subtle, exclusive look and feel.
Available soon
Find the VL 45 Radiohus Pendant in Pale Yellow as well as Amber at selected stores and louispoulsen.com from February 2025.
About Vilhelm Lauritzen
Vilhelm Lauritzen played a significant role in the history of Danish architecture. He was a pioneer of Danish functionalism and designed several notable buildings, including Nørrebro Theatre (1931-32), the department store Daells Varehus (1928-35), the headquarters of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation known as Radiohuset (1936-41) and the first airport terminal in Copenhagen (1937-39), as well as other significant works later on.
Lauritzen firmly believed that there is no life without aesthetics, and this philosophy is evident in all of his work, whether it be buildings or light fittings.
He also held the principle that architecture is applied art. He had a deep understanding of daylight and artificial light and always worked thoroughly with sculpting light and shade by placing windows in a building to fully benefit its users.
Vilhelm Lauritzen applied the same thoughtfulness and diligence to his lamp designs, combining direct illumination to create defined shadows with a milder, more diffuse light that softened and shaded spaces.
Lauritzen had a talent for creating a wonderfully pleasant atmosphere with light, which was evident in his work at the Radio House. This was the first time he designed light fixtures specifically for a building while also designing it. From the mid 1940s until today, several of his extraordinary lamps have been available in the Louis Poulsen catalogues.
In Autumn 2024, Louis Poulsen introduced Tomoshi, a characteristic portable lamp that can be easily moved from room to room for instant ambience and light. The acclaimed Tokyo-based design studio nendo has designed Tomoshi in collaboration with Louis Poulsen.
Tomoshi is one way of saying "light" in Japanese. It also means "lantern” and in a modern version, that is precisely what it is, making indoor lighting much more convenient and fun.
This alluring and highly practical lamp is a result of centuries of design traditions and a close collaboration between Louis Poulsen in Copenhagen and nendo in Tokyo. Its casual, calm and organic appearance is characterised by classic interior elements from both countries, combining clean and minimalistic aesthetics with soft curves and subtle details.
Oki Sato, designer and founder of nendo
The design traits have historical roots, as does Louis Poulsen's commitment to producing high-quality products with durability and usability in mind. Tomoshi is partially made from recycled plastic. Additionally, its LED unit, leather strap and rechargeable battery can be replaced, further extending the lamp's lifespan.
Tomoshi emits a 100% glare-free light that subtly illuminates the surroundings and surface below. It offers a 360 degree light experience while also providing a subtle upward light. Turn on the portable lamp using the button and adjust the light to your liking. Then, place it wherever you wish, for a spot of light and cosy ambience, such as on a small table, windowsill or bookshelf. You can also hang it on a hook or clothing rack, using the refined leather handle, which extracts when needed.
You can adjust the brightness of the light smoothly by holding the button or clicking it in four levels step by step. The lamp can be recharged using a USB cord. When fully charged, it provides approximately 5,5 hours of light at 100% and up to 48 hours when dimmed to 5%.Tomoshi has been meticulously designed not only to be aesthetically pleasing but also comfortable to touch, handle and use. For example, the matte leather strap is exceptionally smooth, and the surface of the lamp is also matte and silky to the touch, the flat button clicks perfectly, and the lamp is pleasant to hold without being too heavy. Overall, everything about it is pleasingly tactile, adding to its premium and high-quality feel.
Tomoshi will be available in brown with a darker leather strap and in white with a light-coloured leather strap. Both variants will be available from November 2024 in selected stores and at louispoulsen.com
About nendo
nendo is a design studio based in Tokyo and also has an office in Milan. The studio works on all types of design, such as architectural projects, interiors, furniture, objects and graphic design.
nendo refers to free-forming clay, similar to playdough for kids, because that is precisely how founder Oki Sato wanted to design things: free, flexible and playful at the same time.
The design studio is renowned for its minimalist and innovative approach to design. nendo has gained international recognition for its ability to transform ordinary objects into extraordinary works of art.
nendo’s designs often feature clean lines, subtle details, and a sense of playfulness. A unique perspective and commitment to simplicity have made it a prominent force on the global design scene.
The collaboration between Louis Poulsen and nendo began in 2015 with the NJP lamp, which has since expanded into a series.
In autumn 2024, Louis Poulsen will introduce the alluring new PH Snowball and Panthella 160 Portable Anniversary Editions. Together with the previously presented PH Artichoke, PH 5 and AJ Mini Anniversary Editions, they complete an exclusive collection of icons, marking the 150 th anniversary of the First House of Light.
Louis Poulsen was established 150 years ago in 1874, and due to this, the world has been presented with one wthis milestone, we have curated a distinctive collection featuring some of the most remarkable designs.
— Søren Mygind Eskildsen, CEO of Louis Poulsen
The Anniversary Editions are each a masterwork in their own right. Their iconic design and lighting qualities make them stand out. What really sets the Anniversary Editions apart are their enchanting colour compositions, which reflect light, enhancing their surroundings with a warm delicate white and pale rose glow, making them original collectables.
PH Snowball differs in its eight shades, resembling Poul Henningsen's original Kontrast pendant from the 60s and the PH Louvre with its slightly elongated spherical silhouette. Introduced at the exhibition Glass, Light and Colour in 1958 at what we know today as Designmuseum Denmark, the PH Snowball will be presented in a new finish for the first time.
The white-surfaced shades of the PH Snowball Anniversary Edition are combined with a barely-there pale rose tint below and a glossy brass frame, providing a sophisticated, warm twist to today's modern and classic interiors, no matter where the pendant is placed.
On each Anniversary Edition, the PH Snowball will be engraved with an individual number from 1 to 300 on shade number four. Also, a special Louis Poulsen edition of the new book First House of Light will be gifted with every purchase.
In 1971, Verner Panton created Panthella with Louis Poulsen, which stands out as one of the world-famous Danish architect and designer’s most significant designs today, mirroring the softest of light.
The Panthella 160 Portable Anniversary Edition is a downscaled and rechargeable version of the popular Panthella Table lamp, which can be taken anywhere to ensure exceptional lighting.
The Panthella provides a lovely, diffused and glare-free light to any setting indoors or outdoors, reflecting an ambient white glow in its characteristic trumpet-shaped base. The Anniversary Edition is distinguished by the top nut in eye-catching metallised brass that shines beautifully when the light is switched on and off.
The colour palette for the entire 150th anniversary series is inspired by the pale rose shade on the inner side of the leaves of the original PH Artichoke from 1958. The new versions of the classic designs, with the subtle hue and glossy brass will elevate interior spaces and homes timelessly and tastefully for generations to come.
The Anniversary Editions of PH Snowball and Panthella 160 Portable will be available in selected stores and at louispoulsen.com in autumn 2024. All collectables in this special anniversary series will only be available for the rest of this year.
