Biography of Peter J. Lassen
Peter Joakim Lassen was born into a Danish family of artists on October 24, 1930, the seventh of eight children. Named after his father Peter and his grandfather Joakim, both painters, Lassen grew up in a creative but also conservative, patriarchal environment. After finishing secondary school, Lassen joined the Danish navy and became an officer during his five years in the military.
From military to furniture
Peter J. Lassen marries Brigitte Hansen, his school friend and daughter of one of the Fritz Hansen brothers, with whom he later has three sons. Lassen resigned from military service and joined his father-in-law's company, Fritz Hansen Møbler, in 1954. Fritz Hansen specialized in the construction of furniture and was founded in 1872 by the master carpenter of the same name. In the 1950s and 1960s, the collaboration with the architect Arne Jacobsen began and the joint development of his chairs "Ant", "Grand Prix", "Series 7" and the armchair "Swan" and "Egg".
Far from mainstream and mass production
In 1969, Lassen takes over the leading position in the company's hierarchy. During his ten years as director of Fritz Hansen, Peter J. Lassen promoted collaboration with architects. Among them was the architect of the legendary Sydney Opera House, Jørn Utzon. This visionary orientation of the company, far removed from the mainstream and mass production, is far ahead of its time. When sales figures failed to meet expectations, Peter J. Lassen was forced to resign from Fritz Hansen Møbler in 1979.
The 60 x 60 shelf
After many years as an employee, Lassen's life changed radically when he ventured into self-employment in 1982 and founded the company Montana Møbler in Haarby on the Danish island of Funen. It was during his time at Fritz Hansen that Lassen developed the "60 x 60" shelf in 1974.
Success with the Montana furniture system
When he left Fritz Hansen in 1979, he bought this design with part of his severance pay, took it with him and developed it further. At the beginning of the 1980s, he presented the resulting system furniture at the Cologne Furniture Fair. The response was overwhelming and the production site in Haarby had to be expanded. The success story of the Montana furniture system begins.
"System of freedom"
Peter J. Lassen describes his Montana shelves as "a system of freedom". And indeed: around 5 billion possible combinations, which result from 36 basic elements, 4 depths, 40 colors and 2 veneers, are gigantic and make the customer the designer of his living space. Custom-fit wardrobes and shelves provide attractive storage space for individual room situations. Basic modules can be connected and recombined again and again, forming the substructure of a bed, for example, while at the same time providing intelligent storage space.
Made in Denmark
While others relocate their production abroad, Lassen invests in its Danish site and strives for continuous improvement. Out of environmental awareness, Lassen invested early and comprehensively in environmentally friendly technologies. For example, the furniture modules are painted with water-based paints. Small accessories enable flexible assembly: the furniture elements can be set up freely or mounted on the wall. All production takes place in Haarby on Funen, where Peter J. Lassen oversees all processes and machines. You could say that the raw materials go in on one side and the finished furniture elements come out on the other.
Art and visions
The curiosity that Peter J. Lassen retained throughout his life, his support for and collaboration with up-and-coming artists and, last but not least, his passion for modern and experimental art made the patron an approachable and valued visionary. In 2010, Lassen was made a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog. He is also a member of the board of the Krabbesholm College and the Trapholt Art Museum.
Montana's possibilities
In the course of Montana's company history, which has been shaped by Lassen, there are a number of highlights that should not go unmentioned here: The opening of Showroom in Copenhagen and Berlin, multiple awards for the best Showroom, certifications for occupational safety and environmental management according to ISO standards, inspiring marketing campaigns and unique trade fair appearances. In 2003, the magazine "Bo Bedre" honors Montana with the classic award when the chair series "Panton One" is produced again.
Family business with five generations
Joakim, Peter J. Lassen's youngest offspring, joins the family business with the acquisition of the furniture company DJOB in 1999. When Montana and DJOB merged to form Montana A/S in 2009, Joakim Lassen became Head of Design and Communications. In 2015, he finally took over from his father when he retired as Managing Director. Nevertheless, Peter J. Lassen remains actively involved with Montana. He was there when 30 new colors were created in collaboration with color expert Margrethe Odgaard and presented in spring 2019.
At the age of 88, the tall, lean man closes his eyes forever after a short, serious illness. It was on a Thursday, 15 August 2019, when he left behind his vision of system furniture that we can use to make our living and working environments more colorful and better.
