VELUX
On 1 April 1941, Danish civil engineer, entrepreneur and inventor Villum Kann Rasmussen (1909–1993) established V. Kann Rasmussen & Co in Copenhagen, a company specialising in glass roofs.
One of his first commissions was for the supply of roof windows for schools to convert loft spaces into classrooms. His concept was to “...make a skylight - a roof window - that is just as good as the best vertical window”. His first roof window was patented in 1942.
In 1952 Rasmussen formed a partnership with Ernst Günter Albers, owner of joinery company E. Albers & v. Drathen (ALDRA) in Meldorf, West Germany. They established VELUX GmbH Bauzubehör, with the word 'VELUX' being a combination of ‘VE’, short for ventilation and ‘LUX’, latin for light.
By the early 1970's, VELUX had grown to more than a thousand employees. It has since become a household name around the world, and the word ‘velux’ has become synonymous with a particular style of rooflight, in the same way that the brand name ‘Hoover’ is synonymous with the vacuum cleaner.
In 1992 Rasmussen’s eldest son, Lars Kann-Rasmussen, became Chairman of V. Kann Rasmussen Industri - the parent company of the VELUX Group. Villum Kann Rasmussen died in 1993 at the age of 84.
In 2016, the VELUX Group celebrated its 75th anniversary. Today, it has manufacturing and sales operations in more than 40 countries, and its products include roof windows, modular skylights, blinds, roller shutters, sun tunnels and remote controls.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Active House.
- Aktivplus.
- Aspects of daylighting design covered by EN 17037.
- BRE Expert Collection 6 Daylight and shading.
- BREEAM Visual comfort Daylighting.
- BREEAM Visual comfort View out.
- Daylight lighting systems.
- Daylit space.
- Dormer window.
- EN 17037 Daylight in buildings.
- Light shelf.
- Light well.
- Lighting.
- Loft conversion.
- Rooflight.
- Types of building EN 17037 applies to.
- Window.
[edit] External references
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
The heritage of nuclear and conventional power stations.
New measures to stop people being ripped off
Government to protect families from cowboy builders and aggressive bailiffs.
New Futurebuild showcase brings an innovation-first approach.
National Planning Policy Framework
Understanding the 2026 changes.
ECA's public affairs priorities
Member consultation opens to shape priorities for 2027 to 2030.
Dutyholder responsibilities from 1 July 2026.
Where performance meets practice
The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham.
CIAT publishes briefing on planning reforms.
Leaders in Learning for Practice Network
Call for conservation leaders in learning to register interest in new network.
The importance of early engagement
Construction lessons from the Trillium HealthWorks Experience Centre.
Mayors are to be given planning call in powers
Mayors across England will be able to make the most important planning decisions.
The Master Builder: William Butterfield and his times. Book review.