Copenhagen Architecture Forum's Podcast

Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, HouseEurope! calls for sustainable renovation and adaptive reuse, pushing for new EU laws that protect and prioritize existing spaces. Using the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), they are mobilizing people across Europe to demand policies that favor preservation over demolition, with the goal of collecting one million signatures from at least seven countries. This live conversation features leading voices from architecture, urbanism, and activism: Søren Pihlmann (Founder, Pihlmann Architects / Danish Architecture Pavilion - Venice Biennale 2025) Lars Autrup (CEO, Arkitektforeningen) Jacob Blak Henriksen (Head of Sustainability Architect, Cobe) Tamara Kalantajevska (Head of Urbanism, Schmidt Hammer Lassen / KADK) Kasper Benjamin Reimer Bjørkskov (Founder, No Objectives) Erik Valdemar Eriksen (Activist, Den Grønne Studenterbevægelses Klimaaktivistisk Tegnestue) Dominique Hauderowicz (Founder, Studio Dominique Serena / Danish Architecture Pavilion – Venice Biennale 2027) Esben Thorlacius (Partner, Over Byen Arkitekter) The discussion is moderated by Enlai Hooi, Head of Innovation at Schmidt Hammer Lassen. Tune in to hear how architects, urbanists, and activists are coming together to rethink the future of Europe's cities — one renovation at a time.

Pil Thielst - arkitekt partner i Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter - foreslår en lov, der kræver 30% af Danmarks areal som beskyttet natur. Fri natur skal fremover indgå som grundelement i byplanlægning – på lige fod med energiforsyning, drikkevand og infrastruktur. Kommissionens medlemmer er Rasmus Vincentz, CEO i Habitats og grundlægger af Vild med Vilje, og Holger Bisgaard, byplanlægger og tidligere planchef i Københavns Kommune. CAFx's Søren Nørkjær Bang modererer samtalen.

Sinus Lynge - arkitekt og partner ved Effekt - foreslår en lov, der pålægger byggeprojekter at reducere CO₂-udledning i overensstemmelse med fastsatte grænseværdier eller kompensere 1:1 for overskridende udledning gennem skovrejsning og naturbaserede løsninger. En lov, der skal dække alle nye byggerier og renoveringer. Kommissionmedlemmerne er Camilla van Deurs, Head of Urban Development i Nordic Office of Architecture og tidligere Stadsarkitekt i Københavns Kommune, og Annemarie Munk Riis, CEO for Rådet for Bæredygtigt Byggeri.

Justine Bell - arkitekt ved Djernes & Bell - præsenter et lovforslag om bevaringspligt, der skal sikre, at der prioriteres eksisterende strukturer og materialer i byggebranchen i Danmark. Bell foreslår et krav om bevaring frem for nedrivning. Komissionspanelet består af Camilla Van Deurs, partner i Nordic Office of Architecture og forhenværende stadsarkitekt i københavn, og Annemarie Munk Riis, Adm. direktør for Rådet for Bæredygtigt Byggeri. CAFx's Søren Nørkjær Bang modererer samtalen. 

Niklas Nolsøe - arkitekt og Business Development Director ved Lendager - præsenterer et nyt forslag om materialeejerskab, der pålægger producenter ansvar for hele livscyklussen af byggematerialer. Nolsøe spørger, hvordan kan dette initiativ fremme bæredygtighed og cirkulær økonomi i byggebranchen? Komissionspanelet består af Lars Autrup, direktør i Arkitektforeningen, og Lau Raffnsøe, teknisk chef for DGNB hos Rådet for Bæredygtigt Byggeri. CAFx's Søren Nørkjær Bang modererer samtalen.  

Søren Nielsen - ekstern konsulent hos Vandkunsten og professor på Arkitektskolen Aarhus - præsenterer et lovforslag om midlertidigt at nedlægge et nationalt forbud mod nyopførelse af byggeri og infrastruktur, samt et generelt forbud mod enhver nedrivning af eksisterende bygninger og infrastruktur. I denne podcast er Nielsen i samtale om forslaget med Lars Autrup, direktør i Arkitektforeningen, Annemarie Munk Riis, Adm. direktør for Rådet for Bæredygtigt Byggeri og Linda Nielsen, Juraprofessor og tidligere rektor for Københavns Universitet. CAFx's Søren Nørkjær Bang modererer samtalen.

How do we move beyond human dominance and toward true collaboration with other species? As part of the exhibition Strange Adaptations at Halmtorvet 27, bioethicist Mickey Gjerris, architect Pavels Hedström, and curator Søren Nørkjær Bang engage in a conversation about the evolving relationships between humans, nature, and technology.  At the heart of the discussion is the idea of symbiosis—what does it truly mean to create mutualistic relationships across species? In an era defined by ecological crisis, the speakers confront the ethical dilemmas that arise when personal desires clash with collective responsibility. Gjerris reflects on the role of love and respect in interspecies interactions, questioning whether a radical shift in perspective—away from control and exploitation—might open the door to more meaningful coexistence. But how do we emotionally navigate the scale of the environmental challenges we face? The conversation explores the role of hope and fear in the age of ecological degradation, asking what emotional attitude we should cultivate to respond proportionately to the problems at hand. Should we embrace optimism, or does acknowledging fear drive us to act more decisively? What attutudes might help us move beyond despair and paralysis toward meaningful action?

What can nomadic cultures teach us about architecture, design, and our connection to the environment? In this episode, anthropologist Jeanette Lykkegård, architect Pavels Hedström, and Søren Nørkjær Bang, curator at the Copenhagen Architecture Forum, explore the relationship between nomadism, space and habitation. The conversation examines how nomadism fosters a deep connection to the environment through movement and exposure, contrasting this with the Western focus on controlled, comfort-driven environments that often distance us from the natural world. The discussion reevaluates the concept of control, questioning whether modern architecture has led us into a “comfort trap” that diminishes our sense of vitality and connection. Lykkegård, Hedström, and Bang reflect on how nomadism offers new perspectives for thinking about design and habitation—focusing on adaptability, responsiveness, and a more meaningful relationship with the world around us. This podcast is part of the event series 'Strange Adaptions' with architect Pavels Hedström.

Biochemist Irina Iachina shares her groundbreaking work on biomimicry, focusing on spider silk as a model for sustainable innovation. From her studies at the University of Southern Denmark to her research at MIT, Iachina has investigated how spiders create silk using only salt water and proteins. This natural process provides a blueprint for developing recyclable and eco-friendly materials that could replace synthetic, wasteful alternatives. Her research underscores the power of looking to nature for solutions to modern challenges. In conversation with architect Pavels Hedström and curator Søren Nørkjær Bang, Iachina discusses the broader implications of biomimicry as part of the exhibition Strange Adaptations at Halmtorvet 27. The podcast explores not only the scientific aspects of her work but also the emotional and ethical dimensions of engaging with nature. Iachina emphasizes the importance of shifting from exploiting nature to learning from it, recognizing the intelligence and unique qualities of even the smallest creatures. The dialogue touches on how these principles can inform architecture, urban design, and sustainable development, underscoring the vital role of curiosity and playfulness in driving innovation.

Waste: Is it just the inevitable detritus of human life, or a glaring sign of systemic inefficiency? Could waste be more than something to discard—perhaps even the spark for innovation and regeneration? Under the guidance of the non-profit association Tusca7, we unravel the tangled narrative of waste and its transformative potential. Co-founder Jeppe Kalnæs challenges the status quo, urging us to question our deeply ingrained assumptions about waste. For what if waste holds the blueprint for reimagining regeneration, design, and community? And what would happen if we stopped forcing the world into the narrow confines of our human-centered expectations and began to see waste through the eyes of other species? Tune in as he explore: The social construct of waste—and how to dismantle it. Revolutionary ways to redefine and repurpose what we discard. A metabolic dream of a waste-free world This episode is part of 10 Dogmas, a podcast series by Copenhagen Architecture Festival (CAFx), produced in collaboration with VELUX's Build for Life initiative. Each installment highlights emerging architectural studios questioning the norms and shaping the future of the built environment.