14 Aug 2024
Material Talks! An exploration of ideas and perspectives
Living Places Copenhagen welcomed five experts in the field of materials with unique backgrounds in architecture, design, research, and art, to share insights and explore different perspectives in a lively discussion and Q&A session at Material Talks on August 8th.
The event was hosted by Lone Feifer, Director of Sustainable Buildings at VELUX and moderated by Toke Falk Sabroe, CEO and Partner at Twin Transition, who invited a multi-disciplinary discussion that found a red thread in a need for more consideration in the materials that comprise our everyday lives.
Hattie Hartman, renowned author and Sustainability Editor of Architect’s Journal, shared her new book on materials and discussed the path forward needed to normalise the consideration and selection of responsible materials to minimise our impact on the environment.
Danish designer Sara Martinsen, curator of the Living Places Materials Exhibition, also participated in the panel and shared her thoughts on why it is so important to get to know the materials we use:
‘Our material knowledge is diluted, and losing basic knowledge and insight makes it hard to navigate and even more difficult to make good, responsible decisions. We become passive when we lack the basic knowledge about where stuff comes from. It is therefore important to know about materials and their origin.’
The conversations concluded with further explorations on material pathways towards a built environment that is healthy for people and planet – with concrete examples of materials, experiments, and lessons shared by Niklas Nolsøe, Business Development Director at Lendager, Vicki Thake, architect and lecturer at The Royal Danish Academy, and Tyler Moersch, Lead Specialist in Technology Portfolio and Exploration at VELUX.
About the VELUX Group
For more than 80 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, for work and learning, for play and pleasure. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 35 countries and around 11,000 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by non-profit, charitable foundations (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) and family. In 2021, VKR Holding had total revenue of EUR 3.5 billion and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 244 million in charitable grants.
About Living Places Copenhagen
In April 2023 the VELUX Group, EFFEKT, Artelia, and Enemærke & Petersen opened the doors to Living Places Copenhagen in the Railway District in Copenhagen. It is the first prototype of the overall Living Places concept, and the vision is to lead the way in the building industry and show how rethinking buildings can help solve some of the global climate and health challenges. The groundbreaking project demonstrates that it is possible to build homes with a CO2 footprint that is 2/3 lower per m2/year than the Danish standard while ensuring a first-class indoor climate.