Story
Poul Kjærholm (1929–1980) stands as one of the most singular voices in Danish Modern design. At a time when Danish furniture was defined primarily by woodcraft, he pursued steel—especially cold-rolled steel—as an architectural material capable of precision, tension, and purity. His work draws equally from the craft traditions of Denmark and the rationalist legacy of the Bauhaus, merging artisanal sensitivity with structural clarity.
Kjærholm trained as a cabinetmaker before studying furniture design at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. There he absorbed the reductive logic of Hans J. Wegner and refined it into his own philosophy of “essential form.” His early work with Fritz Hansen and later his partnership with E. Kold Christensen laid the foundation for the PK series—an unparalleled body of furniture defined by exacting proportions and a disciplined interplay of materials.
He described himself as a “furniture architect,” designing not isolated objects but pieces that activate architectural space. Steel became his primary medium not for its industrial character but for its ability to express light, shadow, and structural honesty. In pairing steel with leather, cane, canvas, oak, marble, or granite, Kjærholm orchestrated a dialogue between contrasting materials—each speaking with its own integrity.
His major works—PK25, PK22, PK24, PK61, PK54, PK31, PK33, PK91—demonstrate an uncompromising pursuit of purity. Joints, bolts, and structural details are intentionally visible, reinforcing a logic of transparency. The result is a quiet yet powerful spatial presence: furniture that serves functional, aesthetic, and psychological roles simultaneously. While informed by the work of Gerrit Rietveld and Mies van der Rohe, Kjærholm ultimately forged an independent and universal design language.
As a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, he transmitted his principles to the next generation, ensuring the continuation of his rigorous approach. His international acclaim—from the Milan Triennale to major museum collections such as MoMA and the V&A—confirms the enduring relevance of his work. Kjærholm remains a central figure where craft, architecture, and modernism converge.
About
Year: 1929–1980
Place: Østervrå
Manufacturer: Fritz Hansen, Kold Christensen, Rud. Rasmussen, PP Møbler
History
1929: Born in Østervrå, Denmark
1940: Began foundational studies in woodworking
1944: Entered cabinetmaker apprenticeship, developing precise handcraft skills
1950: Enrolled in the School of Arts and Crafts, Department of Furniture Design
1952: Presented PK25 as his graduation project
1953: Worked briefly at Fritz Hansen, gaining insight into industrial production
1954: Assistant in the studio of Hans J. Wegner, deepening his structural reduction approach
1955: Began collaboration with E. Kold Christensen
1956: Launched the PK22 lounge chair, earning international recognition
1957: Awarded at the Milan Triennale for exhibition design
1958: PK22 received the Lunning Prize
1959: Appointed assistant at the Royal Academy, beginning a long teaching career
1960: Awarded the Grand Prix for Denmark’s pavilion at the Milan Triennale
1961: Introduced PK91, reinterpreting historical folding stool forms
1965: Released PK24, refining the exploration of material tension and minimalism
1967: Received the Danish ID Prize
1970: Expanded his architectural thinking toward integrated furniture-space relationships
1972: PK27 gained critical recognition within the framework of the ID-Prize discussions
1973: Completed “Villa Kjærholm” with his wife Hanne Kjærholm
1974: Continued development of marble and stone table typologies
1976: Appointed professor at the Royal Danish Academy
1978: Advanced the systematization of the PK series
1980: Passed away in Hillerød at age 51
1982: Production and sales rights for the Kjærholm Collection transferred to Fritz Hansen
1985: Renewed recognition through MoMA’s collection context
1990: Major acquisitions and exhibitions at international museums including the V&A
2004: Kjærholm Production established by his family for selected items
2010: International reissues expanded global access to the PK series
Present: Widely collected and continuously produced, sustaining his universal legacy
Furniture
• PK0 Lounge Chair
• PK25 Lounge Chair
• PK22 Lounge Chair
• PK24 Chaise Longue
• PK20 Lounge Chair
• PK27 Armchair
• PK31 Sofa
• PK9 Chair
• PK11 Armchair
• PK33 Stool
• PK91 Folding Stool
• PK91A Folding Stool
• PK61 Coffee Table
• PK54 Dining Table
• PK55 Dining Table
• PK60 Dining Table
• PK62 Side Table
• PK65 Coffee Table
• PK71 Nesting Tables
• PK80 Daybed
• PK81 Daybed