Hanne Kjærholm facts for kids

Hanne Kjærholm (born May 24, 1930, in Hjørring – died June 22, 2009) was a famous Danish architect. She also taught at the Danish Academy. In 1989, she became a professor there.

Hanne Kjærholm helped break down barriers for women in architecture. She was one of the few women to open her own architecture office. Her buildings were modern but also used traditional ideas. Over time, her designs became more detailed and interesting to touch.

In 1988, she made history. She was the first woman to win the Margot and Thorvald Dreyer Foundation's Architecture Prize. The next year, she became the first woman professor at the Academy's School of Architecture. She also worked on many important groups and committees.

Early Life and Education

Hanne Kjærholm grew up in Hjørring, a town in northern Jutland, Denmark. Her family had open-minded views. After finishing high school in 1949, she spent a year at the Design School for Women. She first hoped to become a fashion designer in Paris.

But she soon changed her mind. The next year, she started studying architecture at the Danish Academy. She graduated in 1956. In 1953, while still a student, she married Poul Kjærholm. He later became a very successful furniture designer.

Designing Buildings

Hanne Kjærholm mostly worked on her own. From 1957 to 1959, she did work with her husband. They designed picnic areas with concrete tables and toilets for roads around Hjørring.

The couple sometimes worked together. In 1962, they built their own home in Rungsted. Hanne designed the building. Poul took care of the inside design. This simple, quiet house is now seen as a classic design.

Her design for a marina in Nivå (1968) won her a special award. She received the Academy's small gold medal. She was the only woman among 18 people who took part.

In Nerja, a town in southern Spain, she rebuilt her own house in 1970. She made sure to use local building styles. In 1976, she did similar work on a house for Knud W. Jensen. He was the director of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

In 1974, Hanne Kjærholm showed her interest in Japanese architecture. She added an extension to a house in Birkerød. It had sliding doors and a large red sliding gate.

In 1976, she won a project to design an extension for the Holstebro Art Museum. She added a square-shaped building that pointed in all directions. She wanted to show that concrete buildings could be beautiful. They could be just as nice as buildings made of brick or wood. The museum's needs were met in a simple and lovely way. Lots of daylight filled the exhibition rooms.

Her simple style is also seen in a summer house on Læsø (1987). She used this style in later projects too. These include a second extension to the Holstebro Museum. She also rebuilt the Danish Museum of Art & Design from 1992 to 1995.

Teaching and Awards

Besides her architecture work, Hanne Kjærholm also taught. From 1958, she worked as a research assistant at the Academy's School of Architecture. In 1989, she became a professor there. She worked hard to support women in architecture. She did this at the Academy and at international meetings.

She also served on many important groups. She was the vice-chairman for the Charlottenborg prize-giving panels. At the Academy, she led the architecture committee from 1991. She also served on the Arts Foundation's Decoration Committee.

Hanne Kjærholm organized several exhibitions. One was a show of her husband's work at the Louisiana Museum. This was after he passed away in 1980. She received the Eckersberg Medal in 1985. In 1993, she won the C. F. Hansen Medal. In 1998, she received a lifelong grant from the National Arts Foundation.