VOLA

since 1961 : Icon of Danish Design and Enduring Craft

The story of VOLA began in 1961, when legendary architect Arne Jacobsen won the commission to design the National Bank of Denmark. Around the same time, Verner Overgaard, owner of VOLA A/S, approached Jacobsen with a radical idea: a wall-mounted mixer tap where all mechanical parts are hidden inside the wall, leaving only the handles and spout visible. This concept fused architectural purity with functional innovation, and in 1968, the first VOLA taps entered production, setting a new benchmark for minimalist design in bathroom fittings.

 

After Jacobsen died in 1971, VOLA’s design ethos continued under Teit Weylandt (one of Jacobsen’s assistants) and later through collaborations with studios like Aarhus Arkitekterne A/S. These successors carefully extended the collection while safeguarding Jacobsen’s core principles of clarity, proportion, and restraint. In 1974, VOLA was inducted into MoMA’s design collection, cementing its cultural status.

 

 

 

Design Philosophy and Systemic Thinking

 

At the heart of VOLA’s philosophy is visible simplicity supported by hidden precision. Every product is reduced to its pure essentials, such as spouts, handles, and perfect circular or linear forms, while valves and mixers remain concealed. This creates a sense of architectural calm and timeless elegance.

 

The company builds on a modular design system, where handles, spouts, and plates can be mixed, upgraded, or replaced even decades later. This interchangeability extends product lifespans and supports repairability, ensuring that VOLA pieces are built to endure rather than be discarded. Their aesthetic remains remarkably consistent, characterized by geometric purity, exacting proportion, and a quiet yet powerful visual presence.

 

 

 

Materials, Craft, and Technical Performance

 

VOLA products are crafted from solid brass and austenitic stainless steel, selected for their exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, and fine finish quality. Surfaces range from polished or brushed chrome, brushed stainless steel, and natural brass to powder-coated colour finishes and bespoke “Exclusive Range” contract finishes.

 

Each piece is manufactured in Horsens, Denmark, where VOLA controls the entire production chain, encompassing design, machining, assembly, and finishing, all under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications. Technical features include flow regulators and aerators to reduce water use, as well as sensor-based touchless mixers for hygiene-conscious projects.

 

 

 

Sustainability and Lifecycle Commitment

 

VOLA’s approach to sustainability is rooted in longevity and repairability. Spare parts are available for every product they have ever made, dramatically extending product life and cutting waste. Nearly 100% of production scrap is recycled, and the use of pure metals further enhances recyclability. Since 2020, the Horsens factory has operated on renewable energy, and the company aims to achieve CO₂-neutral operations by 2030.

 

These practices reflect VOLA’s ethos that true sustainability is not just about recycled content but about making objects that endure across generations.

 

 

Product Range and Design Innovations

 

VOLA’s collection includes a range of bathroom, kitchen, and architectural fittings that honour Jacobsen’s DNA while embracing modern needs. Standout families include the original wall-mounted mixers such as the Jacobsen 111, the Round Series of modular accessories introduced around 2011, and the FS freestanding bath and basin mixers, which turn plumbing into sculpture. The brand has also integrated touchless electronic taps, built-in towel warmers, and modular waste bins, all unified by clean geometry and concealed mechanics.

 

 

Website https://en.vola.com/

Instagram @vola.denmark

Photo vola