VL
Vilhelm Lauritzen
Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894–1984) is one of the most significant architects in the history of Denmark;
he was the trail-blazing figurehead of Danish functionalism. A number of his buildings – Nørrebro
Theatre (1931–32), Daells Varehus department store (1928–35), Radiohuset (1936-41) and the
first airport built in Kastrup (1937–39) – represented the concentrated essence of contempo-
rary life. Other significant buildings to stem from Lauritzen’s drawing board include Folkets Hus
(1953–56) better known today as the Vega concert venue, the Shellhuset (1950–51) building
and the Danish embassy in Washington (1958–60). In particular the Radiohuset building and the
earliest version of Kastrup Airport – both listed today – are considered peerless monuments
to modernism in the European genre of construction.
(1894–1984)
