Danish Design Pioneeres | Hvidt & Mølgaa

Hvidt & Mølgaard-Nielsen

Danish Pioneers in modern
furniture & architecture.

Founded in 1944, the architecture and designer duo 'Hvidt & Mølgaard' became a pioneering force in Danish Modernism. Many of their iconic designs have been awarded, such as the 'AX' chair – exhibited in 1951 as part of the 'Good Design' show at MoMA. A compact and multi-functional design language became the signature of the designer duo – to fit the modern living in smaller apartments. Their architectural mindset and carpenter experience enabled their ideas to transform the Danish furniture traditions with modern ideologies and needs, also in economic aspects: With the ability to produce industrial furniture flat packed for transport, they became a global player in the golden years. Over 250 of their designs have been produced and distributed by companies such as Fritz Hansen, France & Son and Søborg Møbelfabrik. Although industrially produced, their designs were carefully worked out down to the smallest detail. As a result, they truly left their mark on the world of interior design and furnishing – fulfilling a classic and refined form, with a solid and easy construction. We are pleased to present a great part of their work as an oeuvre.

SIMPLICITY - MODULARITY - MODERNITY

Danish Modernism / Functionalism

In contrast to the Bauhaus, Nordic modernism developed its own design language and ideology: instead of a revolution, it was rather an evolution: where the Bauhaus breaks with its tradition, Scandinavia integrates its own, reinterprets it and adapts it to the modern requirements of urbanization.

The material wood is part of the cultural identity of Scandinavia – as well as the craftsmanship of the furniture carpentry, which is based on the tradition and techniques of the Art & Craft ideology. Inspired by the Bauhaus - and in the midst of industrialization - the following challenge arose in Scandinavia: how to combine tradition with modernity. This challenge was central to the innovative architecture and designer duo Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, who were among the pioneers of Danish furniture manufacture at the time.