Preben Fabricius & Jørgen Kastholm

Fabricius & Kastholm met each other at the School of Interior design, subsequently formed a partnership and together founded an architect's office in 1961. They specialised in designing furniture and single-family housing. Although they have individually created some interesting designs, it is in partnership that they have achieved their greatest successes. Their furniture is elegant, refined, and designed with an amazing sense of functionality, detail and quality.

Kastholm
Jørgen Kastholm was born in 1931. Following a period of study in the USA, in 1953 he served his apprenticeship as a smith and continued to study at the School of Interior Design. On completing his studies he was employed by Fritz Hansen, later joining the architect's office. Kastholm was an active architect until his death in June 2007.

Fabricius
Preben Fabricius was born in 1931. He served his apprenticeship as a cabinet maker with master joiner Niels Vodder in 1952, followed by a course at the School of Interior Design. On completing his studies he was employed by architect Ole Hagen. Fabricius died in 1984 aged 52.

Grete Jalk

Grete Jalk was born in 1920. After completing her school leaving examination, she enrolled at Copenhagen University to study philosophy and law, but after completing the philosophy element she dropped out of university and instead took a year’s instruction in design at the Drawing and Applied Art School for Women.

In 1941, she served a three year apprenticeship with cabinetmaker Karen Margrethe Conradsen. In the final year of her apprenticeship she started at the College of Arts and Crafts Furniture School, graduating in 1946.

Subsequently, Grete Jalk studied at the Academy of Fine Art’s Furniture School under Kaare Klint and from 1950 until 1960 she taught at the College of Arts and Crafts Furniture School herself. In 1954 she got her own studio and in 1963 won a British furniture competition – the Daily Mail International Furniture competition with her moulded plywood chair – the GJ Chair.

That same year, the chair was bought by the Museum of Modern Art in New York where it has remained on permanent exhibition. Grete Jalk died in 2006, aged 86.