Henrik Vibskov just dropped something spectacular in Copenhagen. Circle Dome Square sits outside Louis Poulsen’s showroom like a giant red bloom that’s frozen mid-explosion. The installation pays tribute to Verner Panton’s legendary Panthella lamp from 1971, but Vibskov’s take feels completely fresh. Hot-rod red fabric panels stretch outward from a central core, creating this wild burst of energy that catches your eye from blocks away. As you walk closer, you will realize there’s more here than meets the eye.
Once you step inside, everything shifts. The chaotic exterior gives way to this peaceful cocoon where light filters through textile walls most beautifully. Vibskov designed it as a breathing space, somewhere you can escape Copenhagen’s bustling streets and just exist for a moment. The designer talks about combining shapes and colors to create something reminiscent of old cameras, focusing everything into one powerful unit. That focus works when you’re sitting inside, surrounded by soft red light that makes the whole world feel warmer.
Designer:
The textile choice makes perfect sense when you consider Vibskov’s background. He’s spent years working across fashion, art, and spatial design, so fabric feels natural as his architectural medium. These aren’t just decorative panels hanging in space. They’re doing serious work, filtering sound and light while creating an intimate scale within the larger urban setting. The engineering behind those dramatic bursts must have been intense, but the final result looks effortless.
Timing matters with projects like this. Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign festival has become the place where heritage brands take real creative risks. Louis Poulsen could have played it safe, but partnering with Vibskov shows they understand that lighting design extends way beyond making lamps. The canal-side location puts the installation right where people naturally walk, so you encounter it organically rather than seeking it out in some gallery. That accessibility factor transforms how people think about design installations.
The Circle Dome Square extends Panton’s legacy without copying it. It looks like Vibskov studied the Panthella’s curves and proportions, but he’s created something entirely new through his material choices and spatial approach. The installation works as art, functions as a meditation space, and showcases Louis Poulsen’s willingness to push boundaries. This is a rare combination that most brand collaborations never achieve.
Projects like this point toward exciting possibilities for design festivals and brand partnerships. When companies give talented designers real creative freedom, magic happens. Honoring design history doesn’t always mean staying stuck in the past, and the Circle Dome Square shows us that. Vibskov took Panton’s elegant lamp and transformed it into something you can enter, experience, and remember long after you leave Copenhagen. We hope to see such spatial storytelling in more design collaborations in the future!
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