Copenhagen Architecture Forum's Podcast

Inclusion Talks (Ep. 1): Sustainability Doesn't Happen by Itself

In our new podcast series Inclusion Talks – A Universal Design Perspective we investigate and share stories of how we can collectively create truly inclusionary spaces - spaces that are successful in rethinking our shared spaces, inviting more people in – from physical spaces to AI and digital spaces. In our first episode we go straight to a fundamental question: What does it truly take to ensure a sustainable future for us all? The question lies at the heart of the Bevica Scholarship Programme, and to answer it we have invited two big capacities. Tune in and hear Camilla Ryhl, Director of Research and Head of the Universal Design Hub at the Bevica Foundation, in conversation with Daura van Vuuren, a former recipient of the scholarship. Moderator Moussa Mchangama asks Camilla Ryhl and Daura van Vuuren: How do we take the right steps towards a sustainable future - without leaving anyone behind? On The Podcast You Will Meet: Daura Van Duuren: Is a former winner of the Bevica Scholarship Programme. In her work, Daura links Denmark's political commitments to global climate action plans with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Denmark ratified in 2009. In 2024, Daura van Vuuren travelled the world to gather knowledge, and if there is one key insight she brought back, it is this: sustainable development does not happen in silos – it happens through collaboration and across disciplines. Camilla Ryhl: Research Director at Bevica Foundation and Academic Lead of Universal Design Hub. She holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Architecture from the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen, and has specialised in universal design and the sensory qualities of architecture, as well as the interpretation and implementation of universal design as an interdisciplinary principle. Moussa Mchangama: Moussa Mchangama is a leading strategic facilitator and change agent in the Nordic cultural conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion. Inclusion Talks is a podcast that has been developed in collaboration with the Bevica Foundation. Tune in the next two Tuesday for more engaging conversations on creating an inclusionary future.

Unaffordables Ep. 3: 'Keys and Queues' with Olaf Grawert, Bent Madsen, Matthias Nordby, Camilla van Deurs and Line Thorup Schultz

Who gets access to housing when there is not enough to go around? In the final episode of Unaffordables, we move beyond construction and economics to explore the political and ethical questions at the heart of housing affordability. Should access to housing be determined by the market alone, or are alternative models needed to ensure fair and incdlusive cities? Moderated by Olaf Grawert (HouseEurope!), the discussion brings together Matthias Nordby (Urban Studio), Camilla van Deurs (Nordic Office of Architecture), Line Thorup Schultz (VELUX), and Bent Madsen (Danish Federation of Non-Profit Housing and former President of Housing Europe). From the Danish non-profit housing model to the relationship between housing and democracy itself, this episode asks what it takes to create cities where people can not only arrive — but stay. Unaffordables is a three-part podcast series commissioned by Living Places and VELUX.

Unaffordables Ep. 2: 'Forms & Footprints' with Sinus Lynge, Steffen Enersen Maagaard, Wietse de Vries, Valérie Vermandel and Mads Rude

Can we build our way out of the housing crisis without deepening the climate crisis? In this episode of Unaffordables, we look at the physical realities of creating affordable homes in a world where seven of the nine planetary boundaries have already been breached. From adaptive reuse and bio-based materials to investment models and regulation, the discussion explores how housing can be delivered sustainably, affordably, and at scale. Moderated by Sinus Lynge, co-founder of EFFEKT Architects, the conversation features Steffen Enersen Maagaard (Artelia), Wietse de Vries (Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma), Valérie Vermandel (Whitewood Developers), and Mads Rude (PATRIZIA). Together, they ask: how do we provide housing that is affordable, healthy, and environmentally responsible — without compromising on quality? Unaffordables is a three-part podcast series commissioned by Living Places and VELUX.

Unaffordables Ep. 1: 'Pulls & Pressures' with Finn Williams, Kath Scanlon, Olaf Grawert, Anne-Mette Boye and Lars Jensen

Why has housing become unaffordable in so many cities across Europe? In the first episode of Unaffordables, we explore the forces driving the housing crisis and the growing pressures on urban housing markets. As more people are drawn to cities, demand is increasingly shaped not only by residents, but also by tourism, short-term rentals, and international investment. Is the problem simply a lack of housing supply — or is it a question of what we build, and who we build it for? Moderated by Finn Williams, City Architect of Malmö, this conversation brings together Kath Scanlon (London School of Economics), Anne-Mette Boye (City Architect of Aarhus), Lars Jensen (City Architect of Copenhagen), and Olaf Grawert (HouseEurope!) to examine one of the defining challenges facing European cities today. Unaffordables is a three-part podcast series commissioned by Living Places and VELUX.

Archive: Sharing The City With Microbes

Today we conclude our three-week dive back into Living With Other Species. A series exploring how to plan and live alongside other species in the cities of the future. With todays episode we turn our attention to the smallest and often most overlooked inhabitants of the city: microbes. From the soil beneath our feet to the materials that make up our buildings, microbial life shapes the health and resilience of urban environments. So what happens when we begin to think of the city as a living microbial ecology? And how might processes such as decomposition, fermentation, and soil regeneration inform the way we design and inhabit urban space? On the podcast you will meet: Adam Bencard: Researcher and curator at the The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research and at the Medical Museion. Bencard is interested in what he calls "molecular being." This concept revolves around the idea that we, as human beings, are fundamentally a part of an expansive, material network, stretching inside and outside of our bodies. Marie Sainabou Jeng: Marie Sainabou Jeng is the founder and program director of Madland. Madland is a food political community for rethinking the food system. They are co-created by people vested in changing traditional food systems and actively working towards a more sustainable way of producing and eating. Madland embraces all the agents out there who both develop and nurture Denmark as a food nation. Lasse Antoni Carlsen: Is an urban farming expert and food system innovator, dedicated to advancing modular, sustainable farming that bring specialty ingredients like mushrooms closer to consumers - improving the accessibility to sustainable quality food. Gerd Laura Juul Dahl is moderating the conversation.