How can wood develop and challenge conventional methods and materials? And how can we create political room for manoeuvre to develop new construction methods? These were two of the main topics at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects’ recently held sustainability seminar, which featured a number of inspiring guest speakers.

Through facilitated discussions and presentations, participants were challenged – and at times provoked – on everything from today’s “respirator houses” and enthusiasm for concrete to forgotten timber roofs, alternative insulation, and reclaimed wood.

Among the speakers was Frank Erichsen from DR’s programme Bonderøven, who emphasised that if the Danish construction industry wants to be more sustainable, it requires far better collaboration throughout the value chain. At the same time, he challenged the sector’s lack of historical awareness.

“If we truly want to change something, the sector needs the courage to take completely different paths and to gain much greater practical insight. Wood is not an experimental building material that must be altered beyond recognition to be used in modern construction. We must dare to have confidence in wood as a natural material,” said Frank Erichsen.

Following the seminar, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects is continuing to develop new sustainable initiatives in collaboration with selected clients and consultants.

“As an industry, we need to raise our game in sustainability. Average buildings today are commercially buildable, but far from sustainable. The climate needs us not to build the way we always have – at least not as we have done for the past 50 years,” says Michael Schytt Poulsen, Associate Partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and design lead on Denmark’s tallest timber building to date, currently under construction on Østerbrogade in Copenhagen.