Lectern

Designing the lecterns for the architecturally and historically iconic Aarhus University has been both a special challenge and a great honour.

It has been a truly rewarding experience to combine heritage with modern design principles. The lecterns are created specifically for use in the university’s Aula and the adjacent foyer—both spaces rich with beautiful materiality and distinctive architectural references, which I’ve drawn inspiration from throughout the design process.

As always, I immersed myself in understanding the people who will use the lecterns and what their specific needs are. The curved form gently embraces the speaker, creating a sense of comfort and focus. A semi-transparent screen of vertical slats provides just enough enclosure to define a space for the speaker—without creating unnecessary distance from the audience. A box is placed inbetween shelves ready to be pulled out and placed as a step to accomodate a better height for the less tall speakers.

The profile of the slats subtly references the floor plan of the Aula, creating a poetic connection to the building’s architectural heritage.