Knud Holscher

Knud Helmuth Holscher (born May 6, 1930 in Rødby, Denmark), Danish architect and industrial designer of international renown.

Biography

Holscher studied with Erik Christian Sørensen and professor Arne Jacobsen at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, graduating in 1957. He joined the office of Arne Jacobsen in 1960 and moved to England to oversee construction of Jacobsen's St Catherine's College, Oxford in 1962. Holscher was awarded the British Design Award in 1965 and 1966 for work done in collaboration with Alan Tye before accepting a partnership in established Danish architectural office Krohn and Hartvig Rasmussen ["Weilbachs Kunstnerleksikon", 4th edition, 1994.] , later renamed KHRAS. Knud Holscher retired from KHRAS in 1995 and has since headed his own office "Knud Holscher Design". [Poul Erik Skriver: "Knud Holscher, Architect and Industrial Designer", Stuttgart/London: Edition Axel Menges, 2000. Page 176]

Though starting out as an architect, it is his work as industrial designer which has brought Knud Holscher international attention and recognition. His designs have been linked to the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm and to the work of HfG Ulm student Dieter Rams. [Christoffer Harlang: "Danske Designere Knud Holscher", Denmark: Aschehoug Dansk Forlag A/S, 2005. Page 30-31] In 2003, he said of his work: "Design should be like buttons on a shirt. With character to catch your attention, but no more so than you can use it without thinking about it". [Christoffer Harlang: "Danske Designere Knud Holscher", Denmark: Aschehoug Dansk Forlag A/S, 2005. Page 30-31]

Holscher was professor of architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1968-1988 and professor of design from 1994. [Poul Erik Skriver: "Knud Holscher, Architect and Industrial Designer", Stuttgart/London: Edition Axel Menges, 2000. Page 176] He has received numerous awards for his work and is an Honorary RDI, Royal Designer for Industry since 2004.

Major works

Architecture:
*Odense University, Denmark. Competition 1967, construction 1971 onwards
*Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark. 1. prize, competition 1979. Not built.
*Bahrain National Museum, Bahrain, 1982-1988
*Copenhagen Airport, Finger B, Denmark, 1986
*Copenhagen Airport, Domestic Terminal, Denmark, 1988-1989

Industrial Design:
*d line, architectural hardware, since 1971
*ERCO track lights Quinta, since 1990

References