"Celebrating the 150 years anniversary of Fritz Hansen, we wanted to create a spatial experience that makes a sustainable home for the furniture it exhibits. A facilitator for the design of Fritz Hansen. Built in solid wood, the Pavilion is inspired by the garden it is situated in, creating a hybrid space with fluid transitions between inside and out" says Eva Ravnborg, Market Director Denmark, Partner at Henning Larsen.
Sustainability was key in the development of the Pavilion. Born in line with the principles of circular design thinking, the installation was essentially designed to be disassembled. This ensures that waste is minimised and that all materials can be reused elsewhere, including in the reconstruction of Fritz Hansen's headquarters – a project initiated in 2021, to transform the firm's office into a modern and welcoming environment.
The Pavilion's design is deliberately simple – a shell-like, transparent structure, letting daylight and nature in and forming an exclusive setting for exhibiting Fritz Hansen's furniture. The design follows a Nordic approach, where simplicity, natural elements, and high-quality materials are of utmost importance.
On the collaboration, Christian Andresen, Design & Brand Ambassador at Fritz Hansen, says: "We wanted to celebrate Fritz Hansen's past, while also looking ahead to the future."
"Henning Larsen has a strong track record as a leading sustainability-thinking studio. We both have a holistic approach to design, and a similar taste in materials and creative expression, so our collaboration felt natural."
Designmuseum Denmark has been housed in one of Copenhagen's finest Rococo buildings since the 1920s. Originally built in 1752 as Royal Frederik's Hospital, the space was repurposed in 1926 and designed as a museum by architects Ivar Bentsen and Kaare Klint. Almost a century later, the Fritz Hansen Pavilion introduced a modern take on its historical surroundings in the summer and autumn of 2022.
The Pavilion was open to the public during the 3daysofdesign event in June 2022 and afterwards remained at Designmuseum Denmark until mid-Autumn to serve as a platform for several initiatives, such as summer schools, exhibitions, and workshops.