Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects
A Copenhagen-based Danish architecture practice rooted in functionalism and modernist design.
Last updated September 23, 2026
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Overview
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects (VLA) is a Copenhagen-based Danish architecture practice founded by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen in 1922. The firm developed within the Danish functionalist tradition, combining practical planning, constructional clarity, daylight, acoustics, and restrained modernist form. Its work has extended across public, cultural, commercial, transportation, educational, residential, and urban-development projects. Vilhelm Lauritzen led the practice from its establishment until 1969. During and after his tenure, the office became associated with several important buildings in Denmark, including Radiohuset in Frederiksberg, Daells Varehus in Copenhagen, Folkets Hus, and TV-Byen in Gladsaxe. These projects helped establish the firm’s reputation for architecture that integrates building design with everyday civic and institutional life rather than treating aesthetics as separate from use. Transportation and cultural commissions have been especially important to the practice. VLA designed Terminal 3 at Copenhagen Airport and contributed to the development of DR Byen in Ørestad, a major media and broadcasting complex. Its portfolio also includes shopping environments, housing, public facilities, science and education projects, embassy work, and large-scale urban developments. The firm’s approach generally emphasizes the relationship between architecture, infrastructure, landscape, interior environments, and the surrounding city. The practice has continued to work in Denmark while participating in international competitions and collaborations. Referenced projects include a Danish embassy proposal in New Delhi, a residential development in Rostock in collaboration with Wuttke & Ringhof, a harbourfront development in Halmstad, Sweden, and projects connected with the Carlsberg district and the Niels Bohr Science Park in Copenhagen. Completed work such as Krøyers Plads demonstrates the firm’s involvement in contemporary urban housing and waterfront regeneration. VLA remains an active architecture and design practice. Its historical identity is tied to Vilhelm Lauritzen’s functionalist legacy, while its later work shows an expanded scope encompassing master planning, public architecture, mixed-use development, interiors, and complex institutional commissions.
History
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects was established in Copenhagen in 1922 by Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen. Lauritzen directed the office for almost five decades, until 1969, and shaped its architectural identity around the principles of functionalism. In this tradition, buildings were expected to be useful, legible, technically rational, and responsive to their users, while still achieving a coherent architectural character. The firm’s early and mid-century work contributed to the development of Danish modern architecture. Daells Varehus in Copenhagen, completed in 1933, represented the office’s engagement with commercial architecture. Radiohuset in Frederiksberg, completed in 1936, became an important broadcasting and cultural building. Folkets Hus in Copenhagen followed in 1953, and TV-Byen in Gladsaxe was completed in 1964. Together, these commissions show the practice’s involvement in retail, broadcasting, public assembly, and media infrastructure. After Lauritzen’s period as head of the practice ended in 1969, the office continued under the Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects name and broadened its work across building types and scales. Transportation architecture became a notable area of activity, including Terminal 3 at Copenhagen Airport, completed in 1995. The firm also worked on DR Byen in Ørestad, completed in 2001, a large broadcasting and media complex that connected architectural design with institutional planning and urban development. During the 2000s and 2010s, VLA’s portfolio expanded to include shopping, residential, public, and mixed-use projects. Waterfront Shopping in Hellerup was completed in 2007, followed by Stævnen in Ørestad in 2009 and Fælledklubhuset in 2011. The practice also participated in projects associated with the Carlsberg district, including Plot 8 and the European School, as well as the Niels Bohr Science Park in Copenhagen. These works illustrate a shift from a primarily modernist architectural legacy toward a wider contemporary practice involving urban transformation and complex stakeholder requirements. Krøyers Plads in Copenhagen, completed in 2016, became one of the firm’s recognized contemporary projects. The waterfront residential development combines new buildings with a sensitive urban setting and received the 2015 MIPIM Award in the Residential Development category. The same year, VLA was associated with the North Zealand Hospital project, which received a MIPIM Award in the Future Mega Project category. The practice has also pursued work beyond Denmark through competitions and collaborations. Referenced international or cross-border projects include a Danish embassy proposal in New Delhi, a harbourfront development in Halmstad, Sweden, and a residential development in Rostock, Germany, undertaken with Wuttke & Ringhof. Other referenced work includes TV-SYD in Kolding and the Niels Bohr Science Park. Through these activities, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects has maintained a Danish base while applying its design expertise to international and multidisciplinary assignments.
- 2016
Krøyers Plads completed
[1]The firm completed the Krøyers Plads residential waterfront development in Copenhagen.
- 2015
MIPIM recognition
[1]Krøyers Plads received the MIPIM Award in the Residential Development category, while North Zealand Hospital received recognition in the Future Mega Project category.
- 2001
DR Byen completed
[1]DR Byen in Ørestad was completed as a major broadcasting and media complex.
- 1995
Terminal 3 completed
[1]The firm completed Terminal 3 at Copenhagen Airport.
- 1969
End of Vilhelm Lauritzen’s leadership
[1]Founder Vilhelm Lauritzen’s period as head of the firm ended after nearly five decades.
- 1964
TV-Byen completed
[1]TV-Byen in Gladsaxe was completed as a major media-related project.
- 1953
Folkets Hus completed
[1]The practice completed Folkets Hus in Copenhagen.
- 1936
Radiohuset completed
[1]Radiohuset in Frederiksberg was completed, reinforcing the practice’s involvement in broadcasting and cultural architecture.
- 1933
Daells Varehus completed
[1]The firm completed Daells Varehus in Copenhagen, an important commercial project from its early period.
- 1922
Practice founded
[1]Vilhelm Lauritzen founded the architecture practice in Copenhagen and subsequently led it until 1969.
Products and positioning
A Danish architecture practice positioned around functionalist modernism, integrated design, and architecture for complex public, cultural, transportation, residential, and urban settings.
Professional service
Architectural design
VLA designs public, cultural, commercial, transportation, residential, educational, and institutional buildings. Its work is associated with functional planning, modernist clarity, integration of technical requirements, and attention to how buildings relate to their urban and social settings.
Professional service
Urban planning and master planning
The practice works on larger urban frameworks and development areas, including waterfront, mixed-use, campus, and district projects. This work connects individual buildings with public space, movement patterns, landscape, infrastructure, and long-term city development.
Professional service
Interior architecture
Interior architecture forms part of the firm’s integrated design scope, supporting coherent relationships between building envelopes, circulation, materials, lighting, acoustics, furnishings, and the practical needs of occupants.
Building type
Transportation architecture
VLA has designed transportation-related environments, most notably Terminal 3 at Copenhagen Airport. Such work requires coordination of passenger circulation, security, commercial functions, engineering systems, accessibility, and the operational demands of a large transport hub.
Building type
Cultural and media architecture
The firm has a long history of designing cultural and broadcasting facilities, including Radiohuset, TV-Byen, and DR Byen. These projects combine specialized technical requirements with public access, workplace planning, acoustics, performance or production functions, and civic identity.
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