Topic: Climate change and adaptation
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 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 solutionsAndreja Kutnar pt 5 – Inclusion, Policy, and the Role of Wood in a Circular Economy
What role should policy play in promoting sustainable materials? Andreja Kutnar highlights the importance of education, regulation, and public awareness in shifting construction towards more sustainable practices. She explores the potential for material banks, circularity in timber buildings, and the policies that can help ensure that renewable resources are used responsibly.
Sustainability Climate change and adaptation Education innovation Policy-making and evaluation Technology integration Local and regional solutionsDavor Meersman pt 4 – Carbon Sequestration, Sustainable Materials, and Open Source Design
Can the way we build houses help fight climate change? Davor Meersman discusses how wood construction can act as a carbon sink, the financial incentives behind carbon sequestration, and how open-source architecture can accelerate the shift to sustainable building practices. He also unpacks the economic models that could make nature-based materials the default choice in construction.
Sustainability Urban design and development European collaboration and policy Technology integration Climate change and adaptation Co-creation and participatory designDavor Meersman pt 5 – Should We Stop Building? A Debate on the Future of Urban Development
Do we actually need more buildings? Davor Meersman responds to the argument that we should stop new construction altogether and instead retrofit existing spaces. He examines the environmental costs of traditional materials like concrete and steel, the risks of toxic building materials, and why he believes sustainable new construction must be part of the solution.
Sustainability Building materials and techniques Climate change and adaptation Environmental conservation Resource management and efficiency Lifecycle thinking and long-term planningFrank van der Hoeven pt 4 – Sustainability, Infrastructure, and the Future of European Cities
Massive infrastructure projects—from bridges to industrial ports—pose some of the toughest sustainability challenges. Frank van der Hoeven discusses the transformation of Rotterdam’s vast petrochemical hub, the role of bio-based solutions, and the difficult balance between economic transition and environmental responsibility. He also reflects on the strange beauty of industrial landscapes and what might come next for Europe’s largest port.
Sustainability Climate change and adaptation Urban design and development Co-creation and participatory design Policy-making and evaluation Community engagementMarkus Reymann pt 6 – Art, Empathy, and Engaging with the Ocean
How do we make people care? Markus Reymann reflects on the challenges of capturing public attention in the digital age, where constant scrolling erodes deep engagement. He shares how his Venice-based project Ocean Space uses public programming, participatory art, and unconventional approaches to spark a deeper connection with the marine environment.
Environmental conservation Accessibility Ecosystem approach Climate change and adaptation Digitalization and innovation Policy-making and evaluationMatti Kuittinen pt 1 – Architecture, Policy, and the Challenge of Sustainable Construction
Matti Kuittinen, professor at Aalto University and former policymaker at Finland’s Ministry of the Environment, discusses the intersection of architecture, education, and government. He reflects on the role of policymakers in shaping sustainable construction and whether the building industry can move beyond damage control to become a positive force for the planet.
Sustainability Building materials and techniques Climate change and adaptation Systems thinking Policy-making and evaluation Resource management and efficiencyMatti Kuittinen pt 2 – Resilient Cities, Climate Change, and the Lessons of Disaster
How do we design for an unpredictable future? Matti Kuittinen shares insights from his work in disaster-prone regions, including Haiti and Japan, to explore how architecture can build resilience. He examines the role of city planning in mitigating climate-related risks and the political challenges of long-term thinking in an era of short-term governance.
Architectural education and practice Climate change and adaptation European collaboration and policy Resource management and efficiency AI and digital tools Lifecycle thinking and long-term planningMatti Kuittinen pt 3 – The Future of Architecture: Values, Optimism, and the Built Environment
Can architecture help shift society’s values? Matti Kuittinen argues that to address the climate crisis, we need more than just new materials and policies—we need a fundamental change in how we view our relationship with the planet. He discusses posthumanism, biocentrism, and the role of architecture in creating a fairer, more sustainable future.
Climate change and adaptation New European Bauhaus European collaboration and policy Cultural heritage and diversity Art and culture Aesthetics Environmental conservationMatti Kuittinen pt 5 – Aesthetics, Circularity, and the Case for Ugly Buildings
Can we learn to love ugly buildings? Matti Kuittinen redefines aesthetics in the context of sustainability, arguing that the most climate-friendly buildings might not always be the most beautiful by traditional standards. He explores how we can rethink materials, reuse existing structures, and create a built environment that aligns with the planet’s limits while remaining desirable.
Sustainability Climate change and adaptation Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning Circular economy Interdisciplinary approach New European BauhausMia Roth-Čerina pt 2 – Designing with Nature and the Built Environment
What does it mean to design for more than just humans? Mia Roth-Čerina explores how architecture can create spaces that respond to natural environments rather than dominate them. She discusses her work in the wetlands, the idea of "post-human" design, and how structures can serve both ecological and human needs while maintaining a delicate balance between presence and invisibility.
Sustainability Climate change and adaptation Interdisciplinary approach Human-centered design Nature-based solutions Ecosystem approachSheela Patel pt 4 – Roof Over Our Heads: Housing, Digital Tools, and Climate Resilience
What does it mean to build for survival? Sheela Patel explores how extreme weather, poverty, and exclusion are forcing communities to innovate with whatever materials they have. She discusses the Roof Over Our Heads initiative, the role of digital tools in community learning, and how grassroots knowledge can shape more inclusive housing solutions.
Urban design and development Community engagement Digitalization and innovation Climate change and adaptation Local and regional solutions Co-creation and participatory design