Copenhagen, known for its design icons and high liveability rankings, has been named the 2023 World Capital of Architecture. Surprisingly, this city of the future is showcasing buildings made with unconventional materials like straw, dirt, and neolithic techniques. As the host of this year’s World Congress of Architects forum, Copenhagen is featuring 15 pavilion projects by Danish architects that demonstrate how buildings can contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
One notable pavilion, called the “Bio-Centre” by Architects Without Borders, addresses sanitation issues in slums. Another pavilion, the “Tower of Wind,” explores the future of climate change using meteorological instruments. Finally, the Obel Award unPavilion by Mast aims to highlight greenwashing by utilizing an untouched, retired concrete barge floating in the water.
Overlooking the harbor and Royal Danish Library is the “From 4 to 1 Planet” project, organized by philanthropic foundations Realdania and Villum Fonden. This project showcases installations by young Danish architecture practices that demonstrate how residential buildings can reduce their climatic impact by 75% using natural materials and traditional techniques. One such installation, by ReVærk, features a low and sturdy pavilion made from rammed earth and timber.
Architect Simeon Østerlund Bamford, a founding partner of ReVærk, highlights the benefits of using rammed earth, such as its low emission properties and good indoor climate. Additionally, Denmark has an abundant supply of surplus soil from construction sites, making it readily available for building.
Another pavilion, designed by Rønnow Architects, Leth & Gori, and Cinark, showcases thatched roofing as a traditional and sustainable material. Anne Beim, head of Cinark, believes architecture using materials like reed and straw can drive the construction industry towards a greener transition. However, current legislation in Denmark restricts their use for facade cladding.
To demonstrate the feasibility and attractiveness of ultra-low-carbon homes, Danish practice Effekt Architects, in collaboration with other partners, has built two prototype homes called Living Places Copenhagen. These homes feature exposed timber and a tall sloped roof, creating a minimalist Scandinavian design. Effekt founding partner Sinus Lynge asserts that wood is the most sustainable construction material available at scale.
Both prototype homes have similar layouts but differ in construction methods. External window shading and wood fiber insulation reduce solar gain and the need for cooling. The kitchen in one of the homes is a modular design, with replaceable and repairable parts to increase lifespan and reduce waste. The Living Places homes have significantly lower carbon footprints compared to regulations, with footprints of 3.8kg and 3.9kg CO₂ per square meter per year.
Denmark has recently implemented legislation to limit the carbon footprint of new constructions. Living Places homes have embraced this regulation, and the project team insists that these homes are cost-competitive with other options in the Danish market. The Living Places community is planning to build the first full-scale community outside Copenhagen in the coming years.
While retrofitting existing buildings is crucial for decarbonizing housing, new-build projects drive regulatory changes. Effekt founding partner Lynge believes that sustainable housing can be achieved by rethinking design culture and utilizing natural materials that are already available.
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