Born in Slagelse, Lauritzen studied architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen before working for the architect Poul Henningsen. He then founded his own architectural practice in 1929, which designed many iconic buildings across Denmark, including Copenhagen Airport, Radiohuset (the Danish radio building) and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
As a designer, Lauritzen worked closely with the Louis Poulsen lamp company, where he created several popular luminaires, including the PH5 pendant lamp and the VL38 desk lamp. His furniture, such as the "The Baker" chair and the "Elizabeth" sofa, were also characterized by their functional, uncluttered form.
Throughout his career, Lauritzen received numerous awards and honors for his work. He was also a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and served as president of the Danish Association of Architects from 1945 to 1951.