Peter Karpf, 1940-2025
While some early controversial Peter Karpf creations – such as the multi-spoked lounge chair and the string chair – were valuable experiments, other designs have endured as lasting contributions to Danish design.
His candlesticks, his monolithic molded plywood chairs, and his light fixtures became modern Danish classics. Peter Karpf learned furniture design from Fritz Hansen and worked for Grete Jalk and Arne Jacobsen.
In 2002 Karpf was awarded the prestigious Bruno Mathsson Prize – the most prestigious design award in Scandinavia. The jury’s comment was: “His strong sense of form in combination with a deep understanding of materials and manufacturing techniques make him one of the greatest contemporary Nordic designers.”
Peter Karpf’s designs are represented at numerous museums worldwide including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.
To Karpf, design was a process of discarding experiments. Based on his belief that we lived in an age of noise and stress, he designed furniture that brought us down to earth and helped us relax – a philosophy that continues to resonate through his enduring body of work.
Design philosophy
Karpf viewed design as a process of discarding experiments to create furniture that brings calm and harmony to an otherwise stressful world.
Notable works
Voxia chairs in molded beech veneer, Pipe Chair for Materia, AGITARI for Fredericia, and the Oto and NXT chairs for iform.
Design by Peter Karpf:
Peter Karpf
Peter Karpf, 1940-2025 While some early controversial Peter Karpf creations – such as the multi-spoked …
Pipe Chair design by Peter Karpf – Materia
The Dane Peter Karpf has inspected chairs and seating for 30 years. With the new …
Design news from Materia @ Stockholm Furniture Fair 2011
Materia has this year decided to collaborate with two of the most experienced designers in …
AGITARI a new elegant shell chair by Peter Karpf for Fredericia
New Danish designs highlight form and function AGITARI is the name of a new elegant …
Bruno Mathsson Prize 2002 awarded to Peter Karpf
Bruno Mathsson Prize is awarded to Peter Karpf The Danish designer Peter Karpf receives the …
Origami-Inspired tri Chair by Peter Karpf for iform
tri Peter Karpf’s tri Chair for iform reimagines seating through origami-inspired beech plywood design. This …
Voxia Collection design by Peter Karpf for iform
Voxia is a collection by Peter Karpf for Iform, consisting of laminated chairs which have …
The Stackable vuw Stool by Peter Karpf for iform
vuw — an animal sound Like a dog that does not know its place, the …
An inner noise of outer stillness: oto by Peter Karpf for iform
oto THE RISING SUN. Pronounced in japanese, oto means sound, which, with all respect for …
A Nordic triology of light, marine and strength: eco by Peter Karpf for iform
eco THE MAGICAL SHADOW. Like some paradoxical form that creates origami-like space and depth out …
NXT is a stackable chair in compression moulded beech by Peter Karpf for iform
nxt SIGNAL OF THE LIGHT. After more than 30 years exploration of the optimum simplicity …