LYFA

1903 - 1930

Building on proud traditions

LYFA was founded in 1903 and initially named Kjøbenhavns Lampe- og Lysekronefabrik (Copenhagen Lamp and Chandelier Factory) with KLLF as the abbreviated version. At the beginning of the 1930s, the name was changed to LYFA. Taking the LY from 'Lysekrone' and the FA from '-fabrik' as a homage to the origin of the business and how it all began.

1930

The iconic sun boat logo

LYFA is known for its use of the symbolic sun boat visualised in the logo. The sun boat is an immemorial Nordic symbol and rock engravings that origin all the way back to the early Bronze age - chosen as a metaphor to state that LYFA brings light to Danish homes.

The new LYFA logo pays homage to the former logo by reusing the glowing sun behind the sun boat in a new and contemporary manner. The sun boat logo symbolizes the orbit of the sun across the sky and when shining down upon LYFA, dark shadows appear and form the outlines of the four letters.

Better light with LYFA

Since 1903, one of the founding principles of LYFA has been to create lighting designs for all occasions and to be the light in the daily life (‘Lyspunkter i tilværelsen’). During the life span of LYFA, the entire corporation has revolved around the concept of designing the good light in all its facets and shapes. Today, we have termed it 'Lightscapes' but the purpose and fundamental concepts remain the same. LYFA crafts and explores lighting designs that build on decades of proud traditions within Danish design.

1930 - 1950

Innovative lighting and prominent designers

LYFA has since the 1930s won multiple international design awards for their spectacular lamps such as the Gold Medal at the World Fair 1929 in Barcelona and once again in 1935 in Brussels for the RA pendant. LYFA became famous for producing high-quality lighting, which took advantage of new technologies and materials. By the 1950s, LYFA had become an important and significant innovator working with prominent Danish architects and designers such as Piet Hein, Finn Juhl and Bent Karlby.

Bent Karlby started his collaboration with LYFA in the 1940s, which was a partnership that would last more than three decades. He is known for his soft light, organic shapes and hallmark peepholes. During his career, Karlby moved more towards pure geometric shapes such as the cone, cylinder and arc along with playful colours. Today, his most iconic designs include the MOSAIK, PAN and PEANUT series and he is regarded as one of the most productive and versatile lighting designers in Denmark.

Illuminating traditions

LYFA is a visionary home of iconic classics from some of Denmark’s most influential lighting designers. Our enduring designs explore and enhance good lighting in all its shapes and facets.  

The LYFA collection is founded on pure aesthetics and a purposeful design philosophy shaped by decades of dedicated craftsmanship and captivating lighting designs. The design classics are crafted to impeccable quality standards and offer light arrangements for every home, occasion and situation.

Carefully updated and perfected for contemporary living

With great respect for the original designs, the new LYFA collection includes a versatile range of floor, table, wall and ceiling lamps. Dimensions and materials have been thoughtfully updated to complement contemporary and sustainable living. Plastic shades have been replaced with opal glass, chrome plating is changed to polished stainless steel securing a timeless and long-lasting expression without compromising on quality or the original design language.

Craftsmen of the good light

Lighting a room is a delicate matter of creating and balancing the perfect lightscape - the complex interplay between light, the physical surroundings and the desired ambience. Light is the ingredient that influences everything, and our aim is to create the ideal lighting experience through thoughtful design and high-quality materials. To us, it is a question of designing lighting products that set the desired illumination and not the other way around