VL 56 Pendant

Designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen in 1956 for the Danish Labour Movement's building (now the Vega concert hall), the VL 56 Pendant hangs above the venue's wood-panelled bar. Available in chrome and brass, both variants were reintroduced in 2023 with slight updates.

Vilhelm Lauritzen was one of the leading figures of Danish functionalism, best known for Copenhagen's Radiohuset — the broadcasting house whose lighting he created with Louis Poulsen, the origin of the VL series. The VL 56 belongs to a later chapter of that same partnership: by the mid-1950s Lauritzen's architecture had matured into a warmer, more refined modernism, and the building now known as Vega is widely treasured for its wood-lined interiors and meticulous detailing. The pendant he drew for its bar reflects that setting — a polished metal shade with a softly rounded profile that feels equally at home over a counter today as it did among musicians and meeting halls in the 1950s. Reintroduced in 2023, it carries that mid-century Copenhagen atmosphere into contemporary rooms in both cool chrome and warm brass.

In use, the VL 56 is a natural choice wherever you want focused, convivial light with a bit of shine. The metal shade directs light downward onto the surface below, making it ideal over a dining table, kitchen island or bar counter — hang two or three in a row for a quietly rhythmic effect. In compact homes, including the smaller apartments typical of Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other dense Asian cities, a low-hung pendant like this defines a dining or work zone without using a single centimetre of floor or shelf space, while the reflective shade catches and multiplies the surrounding light, helping modest rooms feel brighter and more generous.

Choose chrome for crisp, modern interiors or brass for a warmer, more clubby mood that deepens beautifully in the evening. The VL 56 mixes easily with the other Danish classics in our pendant lamps collection, and for more ideas on making one well-chosen light do the work of many in a tight floor plan, see our guide to designer lighting for small apartments.

Light source: E27 (E26 compatible), 1 bulb, max 75 W. IP20, indoor. Bulb not included — we recommend an E27 LED (1.6–7.5 W, 806 lm), 2700 K.