Louis Poulsen VL45 Radiohus Pendant amber, brass

Louis Poulsen VL45 Radiohus Pendant amber.

Designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen.

The VL 45 Radiohus pendant lamp was originally designed by Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen in collaboration with Louis Poulsen for his Gesamtkunstwerk at the Danish broadcasting house, also known as Radiohuset.

The original design from the 1940s features a brass suspension and a mouth-blown three-layer glass shade, a classic and elegant combination. Historical photos of the VL 45 Radiohus above the Eames Lounge Chair in the home and studio of the iconic American couple Charles and Ray Eames in Los Angeles in the 1950s. Today, the design retains its lighting benefits and refined look and feel that fit so well with contemporary interior trends.

The special character of the mouth-blown glass is clearly visible in the small imperfections, such as bubbles, variations in thickness and subtle colour gradations, which contribute to its charm and authenticity.

Lighting concept: The luminaire provides uniform, general and diffuse lighting. The opening at the bottom of the glass directs the light downwards. The quality of the glass ensures that the fixture is evenly illuminated.

Materials:
Mouth-blown polished opal glass. Untreated brushed brass, acquires a patina layer over time. Colour: Glossy opal glass. Brushed brass, untreated.

Suspension / Mounting: white textile cord Ø 175. Cable length: 4.4m.

Dimensions: 175 x 246 x 175 Max. 1.3 kg.

Light source: 1 x 20W E14. Light source not included. Dimmable by wall dimmer. 

About the designer:

Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894–1984) is one of the most important architects in the history of Denmark; he was the pioneering figurehead of Danish functionalism. A number of his buildings – Nørrebro Theatre (1931–32), Daells Varehus department store (1928–35), Radiohuset (1936–41) and the first airport built in Kastrup (1937–39) – represented the concentrated essence of contemporary life.

Other important buildings to emerge from Lauritzen's drawing board include Folkets Hus (1953–56), better known today as the Vega concert venue, the Shellhuset building (1950–51) and the Danish Embassy in Washington (1958–60). In particular, the Radiohuset building and the earliest version of Kastrup Airport – both listed today – are considered peerless monuments to modernism in the European architectural genre.