Born in 1929, the Danish designer began training as a cabinetmaker before enrolling at the prestigious Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, under the direction of designer Kaare Klint.
At the age of 26, Kai Kristiansen opened his own studio. His first pieces of furniture were a clever illustration of the modern Danish style. They were produced by the most famous Danish manufacturers such as Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Fornem Møbelkunst, Fritz Hansen, and Magnus Olesen. He shared this space in the 1970s with the designer Illum Wikkelsø.
Kai Kristiansen (1929 - )
Série de quatre meubles d'appliques
Teck et acier chromé
The pieces he designs harmoniously combine the use of teak and rosewood, particularly in his chairs and desks, but also in his sideboards and small storage units. One of his most famous creations, the chair "No. 42", produced by Schou Andersen in 1965, soberly combines beauty and function with its rounded backrest and swivel armrests.
Kai Kristiansen (né en 1929)
Ensemble de deux étagères murales
Palissandre
Edition Aksel Kjesgaard
It remains one of the Danish design icons of the second half of the 20th century. The result of collaboration with Magnus Olsen, the No. 121 Armchair, with the minimalism of its forms, seems to propose a dialogue with sculpture.
Kai Kristiansen (1929)
Console d'applique
Palissandre, 1960
Among the diversity of his pieces, the sconce furniture that he created throughout his life reflects a true reflection on forms and their relationship with the space around them. In 2016, the designer has partnered with Great Dane Furniture to reissue a selection of designs that were widely popularized in the mid-1950s.