LivingPlaces

Living Places – a new way of thinking about buildings

At VELUX, we believe it’s time to rethink how buildings can help resolve global climate and health challenges through sustainable solutions and practical action.

Together with our partners EFFEKT and Artelia, we set out to make an impact on the building industry. An industry accounting for up to 40% of global energy consumption and CO2 emissions. A platform for investors, contractors, engineers, architects, and other specialist experts to join forces in a pioneering, multidisciplinary initiative that reconnects people and the planet.

Welcome to Living Places Copenhagen - an experimental living environment that shows we do not have to wait for future technology to construct healthier, more sustainable buildings for people alongside planet.

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Living Places Photo Adam Mork 366 H Conversion1

Living Places Photo Adam Mork 501 Learnings

5 principles

With Living Places, we want to inspire – and prove that change is possible right now. Based on five key principles that can be applied to any home, community, or city, we seek to create homes that are scalable, affordable, and commercially viable.

Each material, design, and building technique is carefully considered to reduce environmental impact and improve human health.

The project aims to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve a 3x lower carbon footprint and a 3x better indoor climate than in an average Danish single family house at an affordable and scalable level.

We don’t have to wait for the advancement of technology to accomplish this. We have all the knowledge and technology we need right now for the building industry to create responsible solutions that have people and planet in mind.

Healthy

What if we could build homes that are healthy for both people and the planet?

Shared

What if we could strengthen our sense of community by rethinking how we live?

Simple

What if a new way of building can enable easy upgrades and a longer lifespan?

Adaptive

What if we can create homes that respond to more ways of living?

Scalable

What if by rethinking the way we design, plan, and finance homes, we could unlock housing for the many?

The experiment

Launched in 2023, the first manifestation of Living Places was displayed in the heart of Copenhagen. The exhibition consisted of seven prototypes – five open pavilions and two completed homes – that showcased our proposition for healthy, ultra-low carbon homes and communities. Each prototype had its own specific program, curated to show the synergy between how we live in homes and communities, and the role of buildings herein.