Two times 70 years

Poul Kjærholm’s iconic PK1 chair and PK52 desk are turning 70

The internationally revered architect Poul Kjærholm is one of the biggest names in Danish furniture design, and his uncompromising approach to form, materials and craftsmanship was instrumental in the success of the Danish Modern movement. In 1955, Kjærholm designed the PK1 chair and PK52 desk, both of which have evolved into timeless classics.

The internationally revered architect Poul Kjærholm is one of the biggest names in Danish furniture design, and his uncompromising approach to form, materials and craftsmanship was instrumental in the success of the Danish Modern movement. In 1955, Kjærholm designed the PK1 chair and PK52 desk, both of which have evolved into timeless classics.

Uncompromising design

PK1 was Poul Kjærholm’s first dining chair. The light and elegant chair is a brilliant example of Poul Kjærholm’s uncompromising approach to design. Taking an artistic approach to design, Poul Kjærholm made it clear it was the language of the materials he aimed to express. He avoided anything extravagant and instead sought the authenticity of the materials and exceptional craftsmanship.

This is evident in the PK1, which – despite its seemingly simple design – is a complex chair to manufacture. The weaving is a particularly demanding task, taking a skilled craftsman around 15 hours to make the seat and the back from 180 metres of paper cord. Visually beautiful from both the front and back, the intricate weave has been specially developed for the PK1, and was inspired by Kjærholm’s original work with wicker.

The PK1 is stackable (up to five chairs) and suitable for both private and public use.

PK52 Professor Desk and Student Desk

In 1955, Poul Kjærholm designed a set of tables for the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts – where he himself was educated and later employed as a lecturer and professor. Drawing on his vast experience as a cabinetmaker, Kjærholm developed a novel table structure that showcases his superior mastery of steel and wood. These tables – the PK52 Professor Desk and the PK52A Student Desk – were added to Carl Hansen & Søn’s collection in 2016.

The tables are manufactured with a reversible tabletop and a drawer module in solid oak. Resting on ferrules, the tabletop hovers elegantly above the steel frame – imparting to the desk a sense of lightness and industrial rigor that is so characteristic of Poul Kjærholm’s design idiom.

The desks double as dining tables and complement the PK1 beautifully.

“With his unique ability to combine function and aesthetics in a light and elegant way, Kjærholm is a natural member of our family of designers, and we’re very proud that our collection includes both his first chair design as well as his stringent PK52 desk.”

– Knud Erik Hansen, CEO and third generation owner-manager of Carl Hansen & Søn