Carl Hansen & Søn Debuts New Danish Design in Milan

The VLA61 Monarch chair was originally designed by the architect Vilhelm Lauritzen in 1944, produced in just 10 copies for a building project that never came to fruition. The chair features an organic shape with curved armrests, a supply-upholstered seat and back with softened edges, and details like small brass feat. It has been sought out by collectors across the world since its initial very limited release. Working from the Danish modernist architect’s original sketches, Carl Hansen & Søn—recently appointed as Purveyor to The Royal Danish Court by the Royal House of Denmark—has finally made the chair available to a larger audience, launching in June. Its debut will be accompanied by Frost’s designs and Homann’s “AH Outdoor Series,” which features clean lines and natural wood.

While in Milan, Whitewall spoke with Knud Erik Hansen, the brand’s CEO and third-generation owner, who shared more about Carl Hansen & Søn’s latest collections.

WHITEWALL: The Monarch chair was released in 1944, designed with Vilhelm Lauritzen, but only 10 copies were produced. Can you tell us about your company’s choice to launch this chair to a wider audience?

KNUD ERIK HANSEN: The whole background for us working with Vilhelm Lauritzen was in connection to the architecture firm’s 100-year anniversary. It is the largest architecture bureau in Denmark. There are about 150 architects. They have done a lot of buildings in Denmark with some remarkably beautiful buildings. And they have a few icons from around 1940-1950 that are well-known in Denmark.

They asked me if we would be interested in producing the Monarch chair, and I said yes, of course, I would. It’s in line with what we are doing. It’s a wonderful chair—beautiful. It fits in with Carl Hansen very well.

WW: You also launched an outdoor collection. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the design of the “AH Outdoor Series” by Alfred Homann?

KEH: Yes. In 2017 we bought a furniture factory in Vietnam, primarily to make outdoor furniture. People are spending more time outdoors. People are moving away from plastic furniture. They want practical furniture. They want wood.

The AH series was developed last year by Alfred Homann who sadly passed before he could see it finished. He wanted it in teak and he formed the cushions. Everything stacks, which is very good for when you want to store it in wintertime. The tables can stack, the sun beds cans stack, and that is very practical.

WW: Speaking of practicality, the Sideways footstool by Rikke Frost functions as multipurpose—a footstool, side table, and coffee table. Was it designed this way intentionally?

KEH: Yes. Frost is a marvelous architect. And the [accompanying] sofa was the breakthrough. We’ve perfected it together. All of the bent pieces of wood here are steam-bent. The quality is extremely high.

WW: What can we expect for next year?

KEH: I won’t tell you, but next year is exciting.