Biography

Poul Cadovius, born in Copenhagen in 1911, began his career as an upholsterer before founding his own company in 1945. In 1948, he created the legendary Royal System, a modular wall-mounted shelving system that won prestigious design awards and became an icon of 1950s furniture.

In the 1950s and 1960s, he developed the System Ultra (1957) and System Cado (1960) systems, continuing his innovative idea of freeing up floor space. He acquired the company France & Søn, renamed CADO, and collaborated with figures such as Arne Vodder, Finn Juhl, Ole Wanscher, and Grete Jalk to create furniture that has become iconic.

A visionary and jack-of-all-trades, Cadovius obtained more than 400 patents and ventured into other fields such as bus shelters and exhibition structures. His minimalist style, combining functionality, elegance, and industrial spirit, made him a major figure in Scandinavian design—a legend who remained creative until the age of 99.

Poul Cadovius passed away in 2011.