What is the most important thing when developing sustainable architecture?

In order to be a “genuine” sustainable project that will also function many, many years from now, it is crucial to consider and integrate sustainability right from the outset in the conceptualization of a project. The sustainability of a project is influenced by how the basic concept - including elements such as form, height, placement, materials - is designed. It is here, in the initial programming phase, where one truly has the opportunity to reap the most significant benefits.

A good example of how crucial it is to incorporate sustainability from the beginning as a premise for the project is the "4 to 1" project - an exemplary project consisting of 44 public housing units to be built in Glumsø with support from Realdania and Villumfonden. The project's condition is that we are only allowed to emit 2.5 kg of CO2 per square meter of built floor area. When we started sketching, the project consisted of 7 wings, and when we calculated the CO2 consumption using our LCA tool, we couldn't reduce the emissions far enough.

By redesigning the project from wings/elongated structures into a circular shape with a courtyard, we saved 14 gables and windows that would have been necessary for the ends of the structures. This way, we saved both resources and surfaces, while also increasing the depth of the development and adding an extra floor. Through these structural adjustments, we were able to make resource savings throughout the building. Additionally, the circular shape has the advantage of providing a good climate with shelter in the courtyard, in an otherwise windy location. Moreover, aesthetically, the circular construction became a cohesive entity with a strong architectural identity.

What additional value, beyond the environmental and climate-related aspects, is associated with sustainable architecture?

There is a very concrete economic advantage in saving resources. The more we delve into minimizing CO2, the more we see a correlation with lower construction and operational costs. It strengthens the synergy in a project and in collaboration across roles when there is a shared understanding that sustainability pays off.

There is also great synergy in having a very pragmatic approach to sustainability. The simpler and more logical, the better. For instance, if you have a large roof overhang, rainwater is directed away from the house, protecting it from moisture. And if you skip lacquering window frames and lamps, they become cheaper, saving lacquer and making them more recyclable.

We are currently in a paradigm shift. Just a few years ago, there was much more resistance to sustainable proposals in the industry.

Can everyone build sustainably?

Yes, but not in the same way. Similar to all other architecture, sustainable architecture should also be site-specific – one cannot take a template and apply it every time as "sustainable architecture." However, there are some commonalities. We know that:

• It is important to think circularly – reuse is good use
• Biogenic materials have significant advantages
• Materials should be local and not have traveled halfway around the world just because they might be cheaper.
• For some projects, it makes sense to minimize surfaces
• External resources such as sun, wind, water, and thermal heat should be considered as resources.

Are there risks associated with building sustainably?

One can easily design so-called "sustainable architecture" that isn't sustainable at all. If the project isn't thoroughly thought out or if the wrong materials are chosen, there's a risk that the project will need to be redone shortly after completion. This might happen, for example, due to the emergence of moisture, which is a real risk if one lacks knowledge of how moisture moves through a building surface and how to stabilize the indoor climate. In this way, an otherwise sustainable project can become unsustainable because it's not durable, leading to the use of more - rather than fewer - resources.