Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL) is an international architectural firm founded by a group of Danish architects in 1986 in
Aarhus, Denmark. It currently has three offices in
Copenhagen and
Aarhus in Denmark, as well as
Shanghai, China. In 2018, Schmidt Hammer Lassen became part of global architecture and design firm
Perkins and Will.
Notable projects include the national library of Denmark The Royal Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek) in
Copenhagen, the
ARoS Kunstmuseum in
Aarhus,
DOKK1, the largest public library in Scandinavia and named by IFLA
International Federation of Library Associations as Public Library of the Year in 2016, and Shanghai Library East, one of China's largest new library's which opened in September 2022. The studio is currently designing the tallest residential high-rise constructed primarily in timber, known as Rocket & Tigerli in Winterthur, Switzerland, and a new Opera House and Performing Arts venue, known as Green Heart Grand Theatre, in Beijing, China.
The current group of Principals includes Kristian Lars Ahlmark, Chris Hardie, Elif Tinaztepe, Kasper Heiberg Frandsen, Mads Kaltoft, and Sanne Wall-Gremstrup.
The practice had its first major project with the
Katuaq Culture Centre in
Nuuk,
Greenland, completed in 1997. The project in Nuuk was followed by first prize in the international competition for the extension of the
Danish Royal Library on the harborfront in
Copenhagen. The library extension, also known as the
Black Diamond, was completed in 1999.
Another major project is the
ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark, which was completed in 2004. In May 2011 the art work Your rainbow panorama, by
Olafur Eliasson, was officially unveiled on the roof top of the museum.
In 2010 Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects won the competition to design the first permanent premises for the
International Criminal Court (ICC) in
The Hague, the Netherlands. The project was completed in 2015.
In 2011 Schmidt Hammer Lassen established an studio in
Shanghai, to serve their increasing client base in Asia. Completed projects include the Ningbo New Library in
Ningbo, China (2019), China's largest new Library
Shanghai Library East, (2023), the world's largest Waste to Energy Power Plant called the Shenzhen Energy Ring (2024). Projects due for completion soon include the Beijing Center for Performing Arts in
Tongzhou,
Beijing, China due for completion in 2024, and West Bund Grand Theatre in Shanghai (due late 2024).
Product design
The current product range includes light fixtures for
Philips Lighting, Lampas and Focus, indoor furniture
Piiroinen and
DJOB Montana, outdoor street furniture for
Veksoe. Designs include the Flakes chair, the Focus Lighting, Idea Water Fixtures and the Swan Neck. The design department also creates unique pieces such as the sculptural receptions desk at
Danfoss.