Designer
Louis Weisdorf
Louis Weisdorf (1932–2021) was a Danish architect and industrial designer, born in Copenhagen. He trained at the architecture school of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1949 to 1954 and, according to GUBI, was one of the youngest…
Biography
Background
Louis Weisdorf (1932–2021) was a Danish architect and industrial designer, born in Copenhagen. He trained at the architecture school of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1949 to 1954 and, according to GUBI, was one of the youngest designers to graduate from it. Early in his career he worked for Verner Panton and Poul Henningsen, and for ten years he led the drawing office of Tivoli in Copenhagen. In 1967 he opened his own architectural practice in Copenhagen, sharing premises with architect Ole Panton.
Signature Style
Weisdorf called himself a specialist in versatility, working across graphic, interior, architectural and industrial design. Most of his lamps are built from repeating identical elements, such as slats that direct the light, and follow Poul Henningsen's principle of shielding the eye from direct bulb glare. He was also drawn to objects the user can change.
Notable Works
- Turbo Pendant (1967), awarded the iF Design Award
- Multi-Lite (drawn 1972), now produced by GUBI
- The Konkylie pendant, still seen in Tivoli's garden, and lamps for Lyfa and Le Klint
- The Fisken concrete paving stone (1974)
- The restaurant Perlen and the open-air stage Plænen in Tivoli, and the former ticket office for the Copenhagen harbour and canal tours
Legacy
Today Weisdorf's lamps are sought-after collectors' items. GUBI produces the Multi-Lite family and the Turbo Pendant, and the Multi-Lite appears in Chloé stores around the world.
