Long known as a pioneer in citizen-centric urban design and sustainability, Copenhagen will be the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture in 2023. Chosen in recognition of its strong legacy within architecture and innovative urban development, along with its high ambitions on climate, sustainability, and liveability, Copenhagen is only the second city in the world to hold this triennially awarded title, following Rio de Janeiro in 2020. The city will use the opportunity to showcase its architecture, sustainable developments, and city planning solutions, engaging the public with events and experiences in a year-long programme managed by the City of Copenhagen.
Throughout 2023, the city will become a global forum for discussion about architecture and urban planning. It will focus on urban solutions that benefit future generations as it hosts the UIA (International Association of Architects) Congress at Bella Center Copenhagen on 2-6 July 2023. This event brings together some 10,000 key urban planners and architects in discussions around future-focused architecture, sustainable urban solutions, and urban design.
Widely known for its architectural and sustainability prowess, Copenhagen is home to a vast number of world-leading architectural practices including BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Henning Larsen, COBE, Gehl Architects, C.F. Møller Architects, 3XN Architects, Lendager Group, Dissing + Weitling, Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects, Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter, and many more.
Danish architecture is known for its focus on the human scale and its democratic approach, as well as its unique modern buildings that include a power plant with a ski slope on its roof called CopenHill, a bike-first urban design consisting of the bicycle snake bridge, and not to mention floating harbour baths, rooftop restaurants and recreation areas, and innovative residential buildings.
The program of the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture is full of small and large events throughout the year. Everyone is invited to take part in the program called Copenhagen in Common.Here is a list of experiences that stand out during the UNESCO/UIA World Capital of Architecture in Copenhagen.
DAC Architecture Run
Photo ©Danish Architecture Center
Danish Architecture Center invites everybody to join the DAC Architecture Run in Copenhagen on 17 February, 2 July, and 24 September. This run is an exploration run without timekeeping that lets you discover Copenhagen’s architecture in a new way. The run is open to everyone, including beginners, and participants can choose between walking 5 km or running 5 km or 10 km.
Copenhagen Light Festival
Photo ©Åndedrag_MortenJust_CLF_vnr.TV_ChristofferAskman
Between 3-26 February, Copenhagen’s architecture will be the scene for visual art by local and international artists. Every evening, it will be possible to join a boat by Strömma Canal Tours to experience some of the most spectacular art pieces. It will also be possible to experience the light festival by bicycle or on foot. A complete overview of the art installations will be available on the official Copenhagen Light Festival website.
Open House Weekend
Photo ©Daniel Rasmussen
Open House Copenhagen is an event headed by the Danish Architecture Center taking place for the first time 25-26 March 2023. 40 heritage buildings as well as new examples of innovative architecture will be open to the public. The National Bank of Denmark by architect Arne Jacobsen will be one of the buildings that will be open to the public for the first time. The concept started 30 years ago in London, UK, and today Open House weekends are held in more than 50 cities worldwide.
Vilhelm Lauritzen exhibition at Danish Architecture Center
Photo ©Danish Architecture Center
Esteemed Danish architecture firm Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects is celebrating its 100th anniversary with an exhibition at the Danish Architecture Center. The exhibition showcases some of the most famous buildings by Vilhelm Lauritzen and will be open to the public until 9 April 2023.
Living Places
©EFFEKT architects
Living Places by EFFEKT architects is a temporary experimental living environment based on a regenerative approach. The building will showcase a new way of thinking that lowers carbon emissions and provide healthy homes and communities. The regenerative approach is translated into 5 building principles: healthy, shared, simple, adaptive, and scalable. By considering all stages of the building’s life cycle and understanding the implication of each design choice, it’s been possible to reduce emissions by up to 75% with existing technology. The building is the first habitat concept example, with a CO2 footprint three times lower than the current standard and a first-class indoor climate. Living places will open in the first quarter of 2023 in Jerbanebyen, Vesterbro, as a partner project under Copenhagen's title as UNESCO World Capital of Architecture 2023 and will keep being developed by EFFEKT, Moe, Velux, and Enemærke & Petersen.
Copenhagen in Common exhibition at Danish Architecture Center
Photo ©Abdellah Ihadian
The summer exhibition at the Danish Architecture Center will focus on how everyone globally has architecture in common. The exhibition presents a wide range of Danish architects designing solutions for now and the future and runs from 4 May to 22 October. At the opening on May 4, The Danish Highline Association will cross the harbour on a 200-meter-long wire. More info here.
CAFx – Copenhagen Architecture Festival
Photo ©Daniel Rasmussen
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary with 100+ events, Scandinavia’s biggest annual architecture festival, CAFx, will celebrate life in its diversity between 1-11 June. Guided by the theme Life Form, CAFx will rethink relations between form and life via new narratives, metaphors, and models for architecture, architectural production, and community formation across identities and species in the wake of the nature crises.
A highlight is the exhibition Water in CAFx’s office in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District– a satellite of the Danish pavilion at the Venice Biennale, curated by director Josephine Michau. How can architecture stimulate climate adaptation and biodiversity in a time of rising sea levels and storm surges in coastal cities like Copenhagen?
UIA World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen 2023
Photo ©Daniel Rasmussen
Between 2-6 July, Copenhagen will host the UIA World Congress of Architects expecting more than 10.000 participants from all over the world. The title of the congress is “Sustainable future - leave no one behind”. The World Congress will address how architects and professionals from the whole value chain of the built environment can contribute to the realization of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 6 themes of the world congress are climate adaptation, rethinking resources, resilient communities, health, inclusivity, and partnerships for change.
UIA World Congress of Architects’ pavilions
Photo ©BLOX | Rasmus Hjortshøj
Architect firms will build pavilions along Copenhagen Harbour reflecting the UIA World Congress’ title 'Sustainable Futures - Leave No One Behind’. A common precondition for all pavilions is that they are designed based on principles of universal design, accessible to all and built with responsible use of materials. The pavilions will be open to all during the summer months. UIA will announce a list of the approved pavilions in early 2023.
Guided bike tours on the UN sustainability goals in Copenhagen
Photo ©Rikke Westesen
The architect's guide firm BeCopenhagen will guide visitors through Copenhagen for a first-hand experience on how the locals are turning the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals into practice. Tours are run all year round.
Cph:Cool Archi-tour
Photo ©Martin Heiberg
With the Archi-tour, Cph:Cool offers a new way to explore and experience the city’s authentic areas. Through a guided architectural walk, you will experience Copenhagen’s buildings and urban public spaces in a new way. The tour will give you a geographic and historical overview of the urban development and scales of the city. The tour will present both old and new buildings from renowned architects. In addition, the tour also sets up to discuss the architecture and their way of interacting with nature, people, and everyday life. It is a private tour and has to be pre-booked.
The tour is available from the 1st of January until the 31st of December 2023.
Here is the complete list of experiences that stand out during the UNESCO/UIA World Capital of Architecture in Copenhagen.
Highlights from the program > https://arkitekturhovedstad.kk.dk/en
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Press release courtesy of Wonderful Copenhagen, the official tourism organisation of the Capital Region of Denmark
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