Planetary Boundaries: Rethinking Architecture and Design

Until the 7 April 2024, the Royal Danish Academy is showing 25 projects, about long-lasting design in the exhibition "Planetary Boundaries - Rethinking Architecture and Design". The exhibits range from experiments to concrete architectural designs and design studies. The aim of the show is to investigate new ways of how to build with the smallest possible carbon footprint. The construction industry, alongside other industries, is responsible for a high percentage of waste of resources and carbon emissions. 

View of the exhibition "Planetary Boundaries - Rethinking Architecture and Design", Royal Danish Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2023, © Karina Tengberg

Ecological boundaries of the earth

Planetary Boundaries is in fact the name of a framework created to define the limits on environmental damages that can be imposed on the earth system before irreversible damage. It was first proposed by the former director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre in 2009 and has been since then used by the United Nations, the European Union and in other political contexts. Nine boundaries were defined, six of which which had already been exceeded in 2023: Freshwater change, ocean acidification, climate change, biosphere integrity, atmospheric aerosol loading, stratospheric ozone depletion, land-system change, biochemical flows and novel entities.   

The exhibition "Planetary Boundaries - Rethinking Architecture and Design" shows 25 projects on the subject of long-lasting design. Royal Danish Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2023, © Karina Tengberg

Natural building materials and living materials

In the exhibition, each of the 25 projects addresses one or more of the nine parameters mentioned. The projects range from research on natural building materials to an academic project proposal dealing with cultural heritage. Visitors can explore quite a few projects related to clay and masonry that offer more sustainable alternatives to the materials available on the market. In addition, the show provides information about luminescence and how living systems can be integrated into architecture. Many research projects are currently focussing on mushroom materials and engineered living materials (ELM). The design section will provide an insight into research into natural dyeing methods for more environmentally friendly industrial textile production processes. 

Exhibition "Planetary Boundaries - Rethinking Architecture and Design", Royal Danish Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2023, © Karina Tengberg

Documentary and 1:1 prototype

The projects and the exhibited prototypes are presented in a large exhibition hall. Digital content is shown on individual screens, including the documentary film "The Happy Few". The film documents research into eco-communities and cooperatives in Northern Europe. As part of a project in collaboration with the well-known Lendager Group and other institutions, a 1:1 prototype of a facade made entirely from reused materials and fast-growing biomaterials was developed. The aim was to demonstrate methods of waste-handling selective demolition and a scalable production process. Such studies can not only help to change exterior wall construction in Denmark, but also create new references for facade construction in Europe.