Nyhavn Outdoor Wall Lamp

Designed by Alfred Homann and Ole V. Kjær in 1976, the Nyhavn wall fixture won a Louis Poulsen competition for lighting historic urban areas. Its compact, discreet form — with a cone-shaped shade and three anti-glare rings — produces a soft, upward light that enhances its surroundings with elegance.

The competition that produced the Nyhavn series posed a precise question: how do you light historic surroundings without disturbing them? Homann and Kjær answered with a fixture that defers to architecture rather than competing with it. The series takes its name from Copenhagen’s Nyhavn harbour district, whose centuries-old townhouses demanded exactly this kind of respectful illumination, and Alfred Homann went on to become one of Louis Poulsen’s most trusted designers of outdoor lighting. Nearly fifty years on, the design still reads as quietly contemporary — proof of how well the original brief was solved.

With its IP44 rating, the Nyhavn is a natural choice for entrances, balconies and sheltered courtyards. A single fixture beside a front door gives a welcoming pool of light; a matched pair flanking an entrance or garage adds symmetry and presence. For apartment dwellers, it brings a touch of Copenhagen harbour atmosphere to even a small city balcony, and because the light is directed and shielded, it stays gentle on neighbouring windows — a real consideration in dense urban housing.

Browse more wall lamps or explore the full Louis Poulsen collection for companion pieces in the same Danish tradition.

Light source: E27 (E26 compatible), 1 bulb, max 100 W. IP44 (suitable for outdoor use). Bulb not included — we recommend an E27 LED (4–5 W, 480 lm).