Poul Kjærholm (1929-1980), Danish architect. After having qualified as a cabinet maker and graduated from Kunsthåndværkerskolen in 1955 he became a teacher at Kunstakademiets Møbelskole and in 1976 he became professor after Ole Wanscher. Kjærholm was one of the finest representatives of international functionalism which is expressed in a minimalist idiom and use of steel, glass and leather.

Danish furniture is normally referred to as worshipping the use of wood and cabinet making as the national character. An exception from this rule is Poul Kjærholm. He broke with the predominance of wood and used spring steel with the same artistic seriousness.

However, his affinity to Danish furniture traditions runs true to form; the leather sofa from 1956, the folding stool from 1961 and the hammock chair from 1965 are all derived from types that Kaare Klint had worked with. Frosted steel and rattan are found in Kjærholm's version of the light (stackable) chair and the simple easy chair on rails both combining elegance, comfort and reliability. Tradition is also expressed in Kjærholm's different types of panel chairs which were also produced in form-pressed wood. In 1976 he designed chairs for Louisiana's concert hall in maple, laminated and woven as a light construction adapted to the acoustic environment.

Poul Kjærholm's classic furniture was a reinterpretation of the aesthetic quality of the furniture. The simple shape and care of the materials create harmony and has a holistic approach that transforms the art of furniture to something unique. Poul Kjærholm was - amongst others - awarded the Lunning Prize in 1958 and Eckersberg's Medal in 1960.