Let's Talk Architecture
Join the Danish Architecture Center as we chat with some of the world's leading architects, designers, planners, and engineers about their work and ideas. Let's Talk Architecture introduces you to the creative and innovative minds behind the future of our buildings and cities. Author and journalist Michael Booth ventures out into the city with architects, planners, and urban developers, asking them about the agendas that shape their projects and our built environment. They discuss topics from climate change aesthetics to modernist masterpieces, retail planning, materials, sensuous architecture, and more. The podcast is generously funded by Realdania and the Danish Industry Foundation.
Episoder
Bioregional architecture - building from the materials which surround us
The Hedeskov Living Lab in Djursland, on the Jutland Peninsula, points towards a potential paradigm shift in sustainable architecture. In this episode, we meet architect Justine Bell from Djernes & Bell, who tells the story of transforming a former school into a centre for education, research and experimentation with regenerative building practices. The project has been created using locally
Why Architects Love Dinesen Floors
You find Dinesen wood floors in museums, flagship stores, restaurants, galleries and historic buildings around the world. But what is it about these extraordinary timber planks that architects love so much? In this episode, host Michael Booth visits the 128-year-old family company in southern Jutland to explore how Dinesen has become one of architecture's most trusted material partners.
Reframing the Periphery
What happens when a national art museum moves beyond the capital, and into a small coastal village? In this episode, host Michael Booth meets architect Reiulf Ramstad to explore SMK Thy, a new branch of the Danish National Gallery set by the Limfjord. Reusing materials, preserving existing structures and working closely with the landscape, the project becomes more than a museum, it's a meeting
Using Nature to Recharge Infrastructure?
EV charging stations are usually places to pass through, not places to stay. But what if they could become green, restorative spaces instead? In this episode, host Michael Booth talks with architect Louise Flach de Neergaard from Cobe about a new generation of charging stations designed for Clever. Using timber canopies, native planting and nature-based design, the project rethinks infrastructure
Using nature to turn billion Euro flooding into life quality bonus
Catastrophic cloudbursts are already reshaping Copenhagen. Instead of hiding the problem underground in massive pipes, what if rainwater could be used to improve everyday life in the city? In this episode, host Michael Booth meets Mette Skjold, CEO and senior partner at landscape architecture studio SLA, to explore the transformation of Bispeparken, a former stretch of anonymous lawn turned in
BLOX Unpacked
When BLOX opened in 2018, it divided opinion. Designed by OMA as the home of the Danish Architecture Center, the building was unlike anything Copenhagen had seen before, bold, complex and unapologetically different. In this episode, host Michael Booth is joined by DAC CEO Kent Martinussen for a guided tour of BLOX, as the centre prepares an anniversary exhibition marking 40 years of DAC. Toget
Can Architecture Heal Us?
Timber instead of tiles, curiosity instead of corridors, and a 15-metre-high atrium designed to make people feel safer, healthier and more connected. Copenhagen's Centre for Health proposes a new typology for public healthcare architecture. In this episode, Michael Booth meets architect Dorte Mandrup, widely regarded as one of Denmark's greatest living architects, to explore how a complex and
Building a Mega-Museum
Eighteen years, a 14-metre-deep crater, a rebuilt brick façade, and a glass dome set to redefine Copenhagen's skyline Denmark's new Natural History Museum is almost ready. In this episode, Michael Booth meets architect Claus Pryds, who was barely out of architecture school when he unexpectedly won the competition for the country's next great museum. What followed was a marathon of design, engi
Why biodiversity Matters and how to get more
Can architecture help us create a future where both humans and nature can thrive? And is it possible to truly strengthen biodiversity in big cities – or are we just creating small, isolated pockets of green? In this episode, Michael Booth meets ecologist, biodiversity developer and founder of Oiko, Kristine Kjørup Rasmussen. Together they explore Copenhagen's Nordhavn district – from concrete
How to build a megaproject: The Fermern Belt Link
What defines a megaproject? And why do they so often go over both budget and schedule? Denmark has earned a reputation for successfully completing large-scale construction projects – whether they are bridges, tunnels, land reclamation or offshore wind farms. The latest Danish megaproject is the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, a record-breaking 18-kilometer tunnel currently being placed on the seabed
Can design strengthen community?
Right now, 150 new community spaces are being built across Denmark – primarily using recycled materials – as part of an extraordinary project called Vores Sted (Our Place). Funded by the Danish philanthropic association Realdania, the project aims to reinvent the community gathering place for the 21st century. The community spaces, designed as four distinct types of pavilions, are the result o
Designing for presence in a digital age
Has presence become a luxury in the digital age? And do we lose contact with the world around us when so much of our lives unfold in front of a screen? In this episode of Let's Talk Architecture host Michael Booth meets Nikoline Dyrup, architect and founding partner of Danish architecture and design studio, Spacon. Together they visit the studio's newly opened exhibition at DAC, Meet Me Here, for
BIG HQ: When architects design for themselves
Bjarke Ingels Group – BIG – is one of Denmark's most internationally acclaimed architecture studios, with high-profile projects across the globe. Not long ago, the firm moved into its own seven-story raw concrete-and-glass headquarters, prominently located on the harbour in Copenhagen's Nordhavn district. But what happens when a firm like BIG gets the chance to design its own headquarters? Wha
Make Odense great again
If you want to see the impact that bold, brave, progressive urban planning can have on a city, go visit Odense, Denmark's third largest city. Odense has gone from being a city divided into halves by a four-lane main road, to one built on a human scale which is ready for the challenges of the 21st century. But how have they banished cars, how did the locals react, and what role has culture played
A New Park is Born
It's not every day a new park opens in the centre of a capital city, and this one is extra special. Copenhagen's new Opera Park is not just a nice place to relax in the shadow of the opera house. It represents a radical departure from the type of parks found elsewhere in the city: this harbourfront garden is a place for the contemplation of nature, of trees and plants from around the world, of wat
How to make renovation the new norm
What will it take to break the harmful cycle of demolition and new construction, when it's still cheaper to build from scratch than to transform our existing buildings? HouseEurope! is a European Citizen Initiative, aimed at making renovation the new norm in Europe. If the initiative can gather a million signatures, they can force a debate in the European Parliament and bring transformation an
New policy, better cities?
What role does architecture policy play in shaping our cities and everyday lives? With a white paper on the future of architecture and planning in Denmark about to be published, we explore how policy can address major challenges—from climate change to urban revitalization. Join host Michael Booth as he speaks with Kent Martinussen, CEO of Danish Architecture Center and a member of the expert c
Designing a 21st century church
The Danes are among the least religious people in the world, with only 2.4% attending church weekly. So why are new churches still being built? And what does it take to design a religious space that meets the needs of the 21st century? In this episode of Let's Talk Architecture, host Michael Booth visits the striking Trekroner Church, completed in 2019 by Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter. Booth s
How to design for rising sea levels
The Danish harbour town of Svendborg, like many cities, has faced severe storm surges and pluvial flooding in recent years. How can towns like Svendborg adapt to the increasing threat of flooding caused by climate change? And could learning to live with regular, controlled flooding – rather than fighting it – be the answer? This is part two of Let's Talk Architecture's deep dive into how Danis
How cloudbursts define the future of our cities
Catastrophic floods in recent years have highlighted the urgent water-related impacts of climate change, pushing it to the top of the global agenda. While much attention has been paid to rising temperatures, flooding poses an immediate and critical threat to millions worldwide. So, how do we design urban spaces to handle increasing volumes of water? Can we learn to work with nature rather than
What's it like to live in a high-rise?
Mette Mechlenborg, senior researcher at Aalborg University, is the co-author of a new study on life in Danish high-rise residential buildings—the first of its kind in over fifty years. This long gap is partly due to Denmark's historical reluctance to embrace high-rise living, especially for families. However, the landscape is shifting, with several tall towers now rising near Copenhagen's city ce
Why cultural heritage is more than good architecture
How do we decide which buildings are worth preserving? And will the climate crisis reshape our answer to this question? In this episode of Let's Talk Architecture, host Michael Booth joins Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss, CEO of The Danish Architectural Press, for an architectural tour of Copenhagen - from the iconic yet controversial Palads Cinema to Arne Jacobsen's Modernist SAS Royal Hotel. T
How architecture can improve life quality of hospitalized children
How can architecture transform the experience of healthcare for children? Can design elements like colors, materials, shapes, and daylight even help improve the young patients' lives? Denmark is about to get its first purpose-built children's hospital, Børneriget, which is scheduled to open in 2026 in central Copenhagen. Børneriget aims to redefine pediatric healthcare with its unique "finger
How to make good business within the planetary boundaries
How can you create more sustainable, affordable, and inclusive housing if you also happen to live in a capitalist society? And can you even exploit the capitalist system to create a better world? Home.Earth might have an answer. As a new and rather radical real estate company, Home.Earth is doing things differently: The company not only builds low-emission, high-quality housing – they also tak
How the 15 minutes city became a measure for urban quality
The term '15 Minutes City' was coined in 2016 to describe a locally oriented urban design strategy. Shops, healthcare, education, work, and entertainment – all should be accessible within a 15 minutes' walk or bike ride from your home. The aim is to create a people-centered urban development that decentralizes to create more lively local neighborhoods. The concept is already being implemented
How rebuilding war-torn areas can accelerate the sustainable transition
Ukraine has seen many of its cities and towns destroyed. One day they will hopefully be rebuilt - with great costs and a large climate footprint as a result. But what are the alternatives? Danish NGO, Arkitekter Uden Grænser (Architects Without Borders), is already working on a solution: With the pilot project Build-back-green a sustainable building system using biogenic materials - straw, clay,
What comes after concrete?
Concrete and steel. We know that both of these mainstream building materials come with a massive CO2 cost, and that we need to find alternatives. One way forward is the reintroduction of traditional materials and invention of new bio-based materials. But the implementation of the new materials requires large and challenging changes for the entire building industry. What will it take to kickstart
How to measure the unmeasurable qualities of urban space
In Herlev, a suburb of Copenhagen, the site of a former asphalt factory is being transformed into a new housing area. At first glance, this is a building site like many others, dominated by cranes, concrete and safety helmets. But in fact, a pilot project out of the ordinary is taking place here. Leaded by innovation agency NXT, the project invites artists to analyze the site that is being transf
How to transform buildings with no waste
Søren Pihlmann, founder of pihlmann architects, is among the hottest up-and-coming names in Danish architecture right now. Known for his ambitious approach to transformations, Søren Pihlmann insists on reusing as much of the existing buildings as possible - from plumbing to concrete beams - and adapting them for the new purpose of the building. In this episode, host Michael Booth visits Søren
How to build high-quality housing on the road to reduction
Living Places is an experimental village in Copenhagen that challenges the way we build and live today. Initiated by VELUX and built in partnership with EFFEKT Architects and Artelia, the temporary village's low emission homes suggest a whole new way of thinking about a series of urgent matters: From environmental footprint to indoor climate, biodiversity, affordability, and community building. As
Sydney Opera House 50 years: How to make art out of compromises
What is the price to be paid for being an uncompromising architect? And is the uncompromising approach to architecture a thing of the past? In 2023 the Sydney Opera House can celebrate its 50th anniversary. The building was designed by the then unknown Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, and it has become a milestone in modern architecture. But the Sydney Opera House also represents an often-seen story
How architecture can drive social change
How do you address the issues related to disadvantaged public housing areas, often affected by high unemployment, crime, and other challenges? The question is common to many cities across Europe. In Denmark the government is combining social and architectural interventions in the most troubled areas: With the 'parallel society law', up to 60% of existing residents are evicted, and entire housing b
Why waste cannot go to waste in the building industry
One way the built environment can mitigate its massive negative climate impact is by focusing architecture on reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling elements. Essentially building within a circular economy framework. However, many central players in the building industry are reluctant to change their approach to materials usage. So, what is preventing us from building a circular society?
How experimenting can foster sustainable living
Cities are attracting more and more people, but finding an affordable home can become a struggle – especially for students making the move. In Copenhagen the demand for student housing has led to new ways of building and living. The goal is to create space for more people by living smaller and sharing more. CPH Village is a leading actor in constructing – and experimenting with – temporary and aff
The secrets behind producing great architects
What are the secrets behind producing great architects? This question becomes increasingly difficult to answer simply as the world becomes ever more complex and undergoes constant change. Therefore, creating a learning environment for students that empowers the next generation to tackle societal challenges was of utmost importance when Architecture School in Aarhus needed a new home. In this episo
How inclusive design can increase learning
Can 'inclusivity' as a design principle bring about new forms to our learning environments? In this episode of 'Let's talk architecture' our guest expert, architect Eva Ravnborg from the architecture company Henning Larsen, shares insights on how inclusive design principles can create equitable learning spaces. She takes the host, Michael Booth on a tour to Frederiksbjerg School, which the stud
How AI changes architecture as we know it
These days artificial intelligence (AI) is in the spotlight – from fearsome warnings about societal impacts presented by leading figures in the tech industries and on to hopeful imaginations of a better future. But can AI also help create better, more sustainable, and even more democratic architecture? At the architectural company Henning Larsen they seem to think so, and their use of AI in their
How the rising sea levels call for new ways to imagine the future cities
The UN General Secretary proclaims the climate change consequences will be of 'biblical proportions'. But what will that feel like in the cities we know and love today – and what can we expect from the solutions? That is what the team behind the Danish contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale has set out to explore. The exhibition "Coastal Imaginaries" explores how we can secure the livabi
Where to find ugly architecture in the World Capital of Architecture?
In 2023 Copenhagen is named the World Capital of Architecture by UNESCO due to the city's livability and architecture which is renowned and praised by internationals as well as locals. But not all architectural realities deserve an award, and in this episode, we take a hard look at some of the Copenhagen buildings we condemn rather than praise. Your host Michael Booth takes a tour around the city
How to protect a livable city against disasters
No one knows what the future brings, so how can architects make sure their design is resilient tomorrow as well as today? Resilience is a hot topic in architecture circles, and it's increasingly on the agenda from the earlier stages of design and planning. But what does 'resilience' even mean? And how do you design for livable cities and resilient communities in an unknown future? We went to Berli
How office design impacts the way your brain works
How does the design of your office impact the way you work? In many ways our working and learning environments can be improved if you ask research and development architect Klaudio Muca from the architectural firm CEBRA Architecture. They have collected research and conducted interviews with leading scientists about the way space influences our emotions and state of mind – which then shapes our cr
How scarce resources shape architecture
By the hour we grow more aware that our planet's resources are scarce, and that we urgently must shift from an exploitative to a regenerative architecture. But how? What resources do we have at hand, how are new materials engineered and experienced, and what new materials and design solutions will we have to get used to? In this episode of Let's talk architecture we went to France to explore the s
How cities adapt to the changing climate
How can our cities handle the extreme weather the future brings? Architecture plays an important role in making our cities livable even in extreme weather conditions. As the future will bring turbulent weather of differing characters, the solutions too are diverse. In this episode of Let's talk architecture, you can hear about some of the manifold approaches to adapting the city to the dramaticall
How partnerships became essential in architecture
How many organizations are involved in the construction of our cities? It takes a village, and no man is an island. So, how do we build partnerships of change, and what needs to be done to establish strong collaborations in time to make a difference? In this special edition of Let's Talk Architecture Michael Booth has travelled to New York to ask: What makes a good partnership? Join in on this epi
Why retail is key in catalyzing urban identity
Can urban life be planned and programmed, or will it pop up by itself? At BRIQ Group, a Copenhagen-based design agency, they use careful retail planning to help foster better communities and bring life to public spaces. In this episode of Let's Talk Architecture Peter Bur Andersen, BRIQ's creative director, takes us on a tour of two projects in Copenhagen, and explains how their place-specific app
How to keep the expanding city at eye level
Aarhus, the second city of Denmark, is growing. Developing new areas rapidly, opening the harbor front, investing in infrastructure projects and cultural sites, the city is booming. The stakes are high for the new city architect, Anne Mette Boye, who took over the baton in 2021. Tune in to this episode of Let's Talk Architecture, where she explains her vision of Aarhus as a mosaic of distinct urba
How city design shapes your eating habits
Does the surrounding architecture make your food choices for you? In a way, if you ask CEO and founding partner at Gehl Architects, Helle Søholt and CIO Jeff Risom. Their team of architects, designers, anthropologist etc. map 'foodscapes' that reveal what food choices surrounds us, and how that can be improved by design. Design for healthy choices is about exposing people to healthy food, but also
How Danish architecture became world famous
The Arne Jacobsen Radisson SAS Royal Hotel was shockingly new for the Copenhageners when it was finished in 1960. It kickstarted a discussion about whether Danish architecture should express local building traditions or move to a more international and modernistic style. Tune in to this podcast, and learn more about the tensions that lie in bricks and steel, and how this discussion continues to in
Why a good city for kids is a city for everyone
Copenhagen was broke. In the 1990's families moved out of the city when they got the chance. This is not the case today, as the city has managed to flip the demographic by creating bigger and better apartments, improving public transport, and prioritizing urban spaces – suitable even for children. Tune in to this podcast, where we explore how Copenhagen grew to be a more livable city by making the
Why architecture cannot speak for itself
Architecture can sweep us away, but communication about architecture is a different story. And a problem if you ask Josefine Lykke Jensen, architect, and CEO at JAJA Architects. She is engaged with how architects can use strategic communication to make people understand the role of architecture better – and make better architecture. Tune into this podcast, where Josefine Lykke Jensen talks about c
How The Future is Democratic Architecture not Starchitecture
Vandkunsten Architects is a studio that was born in opposition to the existing paradigms in architecture back in 1971. They wanted to build for people with respect for the environment. Their approach has not changed since - yet it might be more relevant than ever? Learn more about why the future needs democratic architecture and why we should build less. Featuring architect, head of research and d
How architecture is the interplay between form and life
Jan Gehl is one of the most important Danish architects of the past half century. He has had a great impact on the way we design our cities today – with focus on creating the best possible conditions for urban life. In this episode of Let's Talk Architecture, Jan Gehl is taking us on a tour of his Copenhagen, from Dragør to Ørestaden and Kartoffelrækkerne, on a journey through some of the best and
How to change the conversation at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021
Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter is one of Denmark's most celebrated and forward-thinking architect studios. On the occation of the well-acclaimed Danish pavilion, Con-nect-ed-ness, at the 2021 Venice Biennale, Michael Booth sat down with Lene Tranberg, co-founder and partner, and Erik Frandsen, architect and partner, to talk about the installation and how it changed the conversation at the studio.
Using waste as an architectural resource
Lendager Group is leading the conversation in Denmark around architectural upcycling – the practice of creating a product of higher value than the original. The firm takes a circular rather than linear view and uses creative solutions to connect the dots between building waste headed for landfills and new construction. Lendager sat down with DAC's Jen Masengarb to discuss the firm's latest work an
How architecture shapes behavior
Danish architect Kasper Guldager Jensen, co-owner of 3XN and founder of GXN – a research practice within the larger firm – chats with DAC's Jen Masengarb. In a thought-provoking conversation, they discuss GXN's unique team of sociologists, anthropologists and psychologists researching how architecture shapes our behavior. He also explains the firm's design for the new Children's Hospital in Copenh
Hoard anything you can't download: Douglas Coupland with Bjarke Ingels
Canadian artist and author Douglas Coupland's slogans for the 21st century take on a new relevance in the era of COVID-19. Just before the virus paused large gatherings, DAC invited Coupland and Danish architect Bjarke Ingels to Copenhagen for an evening public conversation. The two observe daily life and bring into focus those things that may be just outside our peripheral vision. Generous fundi
When the present and future melt together: Douglas Coupland
"I think we are stuck with permanent acceleration fatigue." Canadian author and artist Douglas Coupland joined DAC's CEO Kent Martinussen for a thoughtful conversation about life in this age of the selfie, the rapid pace of change, and living in a permanent present-future. Coupland also speaks about Extreme Self - his newest book and related exhibition. Generous funding is provided by Realdania a
Our planet's future and the drivers of change: Arup's Chris Luebkeman
What will our world look like in 2075? How will we solve our planet's biggest energy, waste, climate change, water, demographic, urbanization, or poverty challenges? In a lively conversation about the future and our understanding of world citizenship, Chris Luebkeman, Global Foresight Leader at the engineering, architecture, and planning firm of Arup, shared his thoughts with DAC's Jen Masengarb.
Time as a resource: Anupamu Kundoo
Indian architect Anupamu Kundoo's buildings often use very traditional and sustainable materials but used in surprising and experimental ways. Kundoo sat down with DAC's Jen Masengarb to discuss the planet's rapid urbanization and how as a contemporary designer she is working to help build a more equitable and sustainable economy for skilled local craftsmen.
Racing to finish Sagrada Familia: Arup's Tristram Carfrae
How do you finish one of the world's most famous unfinished buildings? Without a set of original plans, a group of engineers and craftsmen are using new technologies and adapting historic techniques to finish Sagrada Familia by 2026. Arup engineer Tristram Carfrae sat down with DAC's Jen Masengarb to discuss the project and what he'd like to ask Antoni Gaudi if the architect were alive today.
Life on our planet not centered around us: Bruce Mau
"Everything we are doing right now, we don't know how to do. That's the magical thing about design." Designer Bruce Mau joined DAC's Jen Masengarb to discuss Massive Change Network's current projects and his ground-breaking collaborations with leading architects, museums, and companies. Mau speaks about caring for our planet and argues this is the best time in human history to be alive.
DAC's home in a transparent BLOX: OMA's Ellen van Loon
For OMA partner architect Ellen van Loon, a building's spatial form and the relationship between interior and exterior has always been of great fascination. She joined DAC's Jen Masengarb to discuss the design process for the BLOX building in Copenhagen – the mixed-building that is also home to DAC – and what happens when she returns to 'spy' on the users of spaces she has designed.
Architecture on Mars?: BIG's Jakob Lange with Tor Nørretranders
Bjarke Ingels Group has been working with the Dubai Future Foundation to imagine a 2117 city on Mars. BIG Partner Jakob Lange and popular science author Tor Nørretranders sat down with DAC's Jen Masengarb. What is the role of architects in creating a sustainable Martian environment? And what could this exploration teach us about Earth? Generous funding is provided by Realdania and the Danish Indus
The business of architecture: BIG's Sheela Søgaard
Sheela Søgaard, Partner and CEO at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) isn't an architect, but her leadership has been critical to the firm's rapid global growth. In a candid conversation with DAC's Jen Masengarb, Søgaard shares her insight on the business of architecture and how the firm works to close gender and pay gaps. Generous funding is provided by Realdania and the Danish Industry Foundation which a
Giving form to the future: Bjarke Ingels
Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, the founding partner of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has been disrupting the architecture world for the past 20 years. As part of BIG's FORMGIVING exhibition at DAC, Ingels sat down with DAC's Jen Masengarb in a lively chat on a range of topics – from philosophy to technology to the architect from history he'd most like to meet. Generous funding is provided by Realdani
Restless at heart: Dorte Mandrup
Being restless and pushing boundaries has always been part of Danish architect Dorte Mandrup's way of life. Her collection of projects on UNESCO World Heritage sites has led to a new focus on the firm's work. In a conversation with DAC's Jen Masengarb, Mandrup discusses her design process, career path, new work, and the influential landscapes of her childhood.
The Architecture City: BLOX in Copenhagen
The design of radical buildings in historic cities often stirs up debate. Are we afraid of architectural change? Do we eventually come to love these buildings? OMA architect and partner Ellen van Loon chats with DAC's Director Kent Martinussen and host Frederikke Aagaard about the design of BLOX and the conversation it has sparked among residents and visitors in Copenhagen about design.
