The EmPower of ´23

"Come to Copenhagen early July 2023, to the UIA World Congress of Architects CPH 2023 ! Leave no one behind".

6000+ participants took up this invitation, to come to visit Denmark in midsummer, timing set by UIA - International Union of Architects . Only the weather left a bit behind to wish for, the 6000+ Congress goers were first met Monday morning by rain and strong winds outdoors, the day following the warmest day every, measured globally. On this backdrop, we gathered indoors, convening at more than 150 events, 400+ speakers, 250 papers, to discuss our common sustainable future.

I have attended UIA Congresses since my first in Berlin 2001, always leaving a huge impression; the speakers, the meetings, the level of discussions, the shear cornucopia of themes and talks. Always left inspired, uplifted and full of hope for the architectural profession, so many gifted and talented people, gathered in inspiring conversations at the same time and place.

The UIA 2023 Congress was won by a Danish partners bid in Seoul back in 2017, in fierce competition to 4 other cities, amongst them Lausanne, where UIA - International Union of Architects was first founded in 1948, same year as the United Nations . Union of Architects, Architects United – back then for the rebuild after World War II, to “unify architects, influence public policies and advance architecture in service to the needs of society.” The 2023 Congress moulded for 6 years, where the Danish building industry players from across the value chain engaged with key stakeholders, mobilizing up to the Congress.

What a tremendous power of innovation, unified towards the Congress, and Copenhagen as Global Capital of Architecture, a UNESCO-UIA title. Really impressive innovation spirit and power, which made me think at The Powers of Ten, an iconic film, created by Charles and Ray Eames, from 1977, where the first frame shows a couple enjoying a picnic in a park, size is one meter by one meter.

The films zooms out by ten, and ten, and ten - up to 10 million million meters (!) away, giving a perspective to the couple in the park, by powers of the universe. Followed by a zooming in and zooming in and zooming in to 0.00001 angstroms - the very very smallest measure of what we consist of as human beings, the smallest particle measurable.

I watched this movie many times as an architect student, when Paustian Design Est. 1964 ran Eames film sessions; the film is short, incredibly elegantly made for its time (1977), and unfathomable, once you start thinking about it. At the same time, it is also very straight forward; it was very clear to me that this is the science, and this is our working material as architects, and not least, the scales we must grasp and process in the physical built environment. Even the largest challenge and problem can be scaled down and crunched, or the smallest detail can be multiplied into a grand solution. To me, this epitomized the power of the architectural profession. The World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen was an enormous empowerment of the global community meeting up and engaging into talks, debates, with key notes and numerous informal meetings, both expected and many unexpected new acquaintances, with promising spin-off for future relations.

The Congress, and Copenhagen as World Capital of Architecture was a truly mindblowing empowerment of the Danish building industry in itself. It brought us a peak of innovation, leaps of development, consensus on measures and a catalogue of best practice examples under 4>1 Planet, all done in partnerships to an unprecedented extent. The 15 SDG pavillons around the city, turning our capital into a full scale building expo, commenting and pushing the agenda on more sustainable buildings, cities and industry. A great demonstration of cooperation and ability to showcase, led by architects, with more than 100 partners involved. Leading up to the Congress, the Donut for Urban Development was launched, another partnership of more than 20 partners and same amount of stakeholders. Spor10 is a new venue, leading the way on urban development and green neighbourhoods. In our Living Places prototypes at Jernbanebyen we have more than 20 partners, plus we partnered to showcase the Housing Lab, the masterplan of Jernbanebyen, and the winners of Neighbourhoods for Generations by Landsbyggefonden. The prototype expo of Living Places has been visited by more than 5000 professionals from the building industry, we hosted more than 150+ events, facilitating discussions and exchanges on how to achieve ultra low carbon footprint, an optimal indoor climate, and a sense of belonging, community and mental well-being.

All the great efforts and teamwork concluded during the Congress 3 days, packed with talks and events, available here where I enjoyed later-watching several talks. With pleasure, I share some nuggets which I take with me, and I recommend for you to watch:  

-          Margrethe Vestager , underlining the dimensions of New European Bauhaus – Beauty, Inclusion and Sustainability. These aspects may become our main focus areas, when we steer through rough waters of pushing the agenda further.

-          Mette Skjold , if you were ever in doubt about the urgency of biodiversity, watch this key note talk. For the next Congress theme, Mette recommends “Leave no species behind”

-          Anna Heringer – pilot projects and prototypes are like acupuncture, it can be very efficient medicin to bring back the balance and set focus on the most important point

-          A/Prof HY William Chan – "Do you dare?" Find your allies – share ideas on how to work across, take the courage to do this; when you feel alone, feeling the weight of the worlds problems, find your allies, design for all.

-         Nyasha Harper-Michon – collaborate to enable real change; ditch the Da Vinci “Reference Man” or MAN by Le Corbusier, because it is an unrepresentative archetype. Form intergenerational and sectoral allyship to drive social and environmental change. Systemic empathy. Be an Archtivist!

-         Jan Gehl - Life between buildings, life in itself, focus on humans, not on brick and mortar only. Eternal and ever relevant message from the nestor.

-         Kunle Adeyemi - Iterations and improvements; design is just one tool. We need – as building industry professionals – to engage into a multidisciplinary approach, understanding economics, finances. Have no fear, do not hold back, learn to build differently, to enable us to live differently. The most remarkable quote was: Form follows Finance!

-         John Schellnhuber - destabilization and the world at 2.7 degrees global warming. Which in the meantime is coined as “global boiling!” – on July 2nd, the hottest day on Earth ever measured! Repair or Despair! Buildings as a global carbon sink. Reconstructing the future – cities as carbon sinks – Turn down the heat, or we will all be toast. When procurement happens, remember to price externalities. Stop building for billionaires, start building for the planet. Architects and urban planners hold the key to sustainability, open your hands!

-         Francis Keré: Create something that is real to convince people. Show it, don´t tell it. Make it attractive to be part of the journey.

-         Minik Rosing Do not be wasteful. But do not assume that you can do anything without leaving an imprint. We should all be better than just providing a solution to a problem. As architects, do something more beautiful than what was there before. Better to use a little bit more to make it nicer, lasting longer time and being appreciated.

-     To wrap up the Congress days, the Congress President Natalie Mossin launched

the 10 Copenhagen Lessons reflecting well the overall approach to maintain a dual commitment to environmental and social sustainability.

The EmPower of 23 will reach far beyond the Congress, beyond the Capital of Architecture, as a global lighthouse of inspiration for the architectural profession, and the building industry. I remain inspired and empowered, after experiencing a level of innovation power, as never before (or again?) in my architect life.