100 years of Henning

Growing up in Western Jutland, Henning Larsen was enchanted by light; he was absorbed by the ways it could fill a village church, flood through a farmhouse skylight, or reflect off whitewashed bricks. These early experiences left a lasting impression, forming the foundation of his later work – a masterful blend of direct and reflected daylight. Throughout his career, Henning returned time and again to the strength of daylight, treating it as a material like any other. It was this command of light that earned him the title ‘the master of light’ within the architectural community.

Henning founded his own studio in 1959, where he would work on projects such as Gentofte Library, the Royal Danish Opera, Enghøj Church, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, and the New Carlsberg Glyptotek. From the start, it was a practice built on the values of multicultural community, cross-disciplinary creativity, knowledge sharing, and an open company culture.

As a studio leader, an educator, and as a person, Henning was quietly ahead of his time. Shaped by the 20th century, his ambitions and ideals belonged more closely to the 21st, foreshadowing many of the characteristics that define successful creative processes and architectural practices today. He founded and published SKALA magazine, which platformed architectural critique and conversation for nearly a decade.

Henning passed away in 2013, the studio is proud to still bear his name today. His inquisitive, agile, and experiential approach to architecture, his ability to push boundaries, and his unparalleled understanding of light continue to be the cornerstones of our practice and the legacy he has left on Danish architecture and design.