It’s been a century since visionary Danish designer Poul Henningsen conceived the System PH, a lighting design that revolutionised illumination. At 3daysofdesign 2026, Louis Poulsen pays homage to the centenary through its immersive exhibition PHorever and a commemorative collection. Here, we speak to Henningsen’s great-grandson, Mads Wille, who sheds light on who Henningsen was beyond his creations, and why they continue to resonate a 100 years on
Creating designs that still feel relevant and fresh a century later is a rare club to be part of. Danish visionary Poul Henningsen is one of those singular talents. Some might even say that his work will live on forever. Or PHorever, as Louis Poulsen’s 3daysofdesign exhibition playfully puts it. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Henningsen’s iconic ‘System PH’ – a pioneering lighting design he conceived in 1926 – Louis Poulsen honoured his enduring legacy during 3daysofdesign with a series of engaging talks hosted at the design house’s showroom, along with a commemorative PH Centenary Collection.
“Once you have experienced good lighting, life is filled with new values,” Henningsen once said. The System PH emerged from the architect and cultural critic’s pursuit of precisely that, inspired in part by his mother. In the 1920s, electricity began to enter homes, replacing oil lamps and candles. This shift brought with it harsh, glaring light that shone directly downward. Henningsen’s mother disliked the way it made her look, and her devoted son set out to create more harmonious lighting.
Harnessing his mathematical prowess, Henningsen used the golden hour – the time of day when the sun casts its softest, honeyed rays – as his reference. He calculated and studied the sun’s trajectory, observing its illumination. Determined to eliminate glare, he sketched, drew, and experimented with how light could be bent, shaded, and diffused to achieve the most ambient luminescence.