Poul Henningsen
Danish architect Poul Henningsen (1894-1967) , known by his initials, ”PH” was obsessed with light. He is the legendary creator of the lighting series carrying his name. He can be said to be the world’s first lighting architect. Poul Henningsen devoted his entire career to investigating the importance of light for our well being. He worked on the theory that the observer should not be subjected to direct glare from the electric light source. Henningsen used a series of layered shades to both spread the light and conceal the light bulb, thus creating a softer more diffused lighting. Already in the 1910’s, as a student, he made his first drawings for the PH-lamp. In this period, electricity was installed in Danish homes and traditional oil lamps were abandoned. In 1925, the first PH-lamp was shown at the World Expo in Paris. Poul Henningsen patented his shade system in 1926. From this year until the early 1930’s the PH-lighting was marked “patented”. Danish manufacturer Louis Poulsen took care of the production and managed, in a short time, to create a widespread export of the PH-lamps. Poul Henningsen’s designs are to be found in numerous official buildings from banks, museums, hotels and sport arenas to home interiors in Denmark and world wide. Henningsen’s social engagement was evident in every part of his work. For him architecture and city planning was an important political tool. He was a spokesman of an overall functionalism, in interiors, furniture and city planning. Functionalism is a simple style, were everything is stripped down to the bare essentials. PH’s thesis was that this must be the right way to build the best housing for a wider public. The workers should no longer live in ghettos, but have a light, practical and modern living. Until his death, Poul Henningsen was an engaged and provocative debater.