Aase Højlund Nielsen pt 1 – Sustainable Urbanisation and Citizen Engagement
Aase Højlund Nielsen, coordinator of the DESIRE project at Bloxhub in Copenhagen, discusses how citizen participation shapes sustainable urbanisation. She explores the role of public engagement in the green transition, the importance of matching expertise with lived experience, and the challenges of making systemic change feel relevant and accessible to communities.
Sustainability Community engagement Climate change and adaptation Systems thinking Interdisciplinary approach Knowledge sharing and disseminationAase Højlund Nielsen pt 2 – Technology, Inclusion, and the Power of Place
How do digital tools support community engagement? Aase Højlund Nielsen explains the role of technology in urban planning, the importance of adapting strategies for different cultures, and how Copenhagen’s unique context influences innovation. She also reflects on the limitations of replicating solutions across different regions and the need for meaningful, localised approaches.
Community engagement Technology integration Education innovation Adaptability Cultural heritage and diversity Co-creation and participatory designAase Højlund Nielsen pt 3 – Aesthetics, Green Transition, and Making Change Desirable
How do we make sustainability the preferred choice? Aase Højlund Nielsen discusses the role of aesthetics in urban transformation, the power of art in community building, and the different approaches taken across Europe to integrate beauty and function into sustainable development. She explores how design can create spaces people actively want to engage with rather than feel obligated to support.
Sustainability Community engagement Climate change and adaptation Co-creation and participatory design Human-centered design Local and regional solutionsAase Højlund Nielsen pt 4 – Conflict, Collaboration, and the Principles of Change
Can disagreements drive progress? Aase Højlund Nielsen shares how conflict within collaborative projects can be a powerful force for innovation. She reflects on the challenges of aligning different perspectives in the DESIRE project, the importance of open debate, and how artistic and ecological principles can be used as shared languages to shape the built environment.
Interdisciplinary approach Sustainability Community engagement Knowledge sharing and dissemination Adaptability Co-creation and participatory design