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Copenhagen Architecture Biennial to Explore 'Elements' in Second Edition

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The Copenhagen Architecture Biennial, a significant event in the global architectural calendar, has announced the details for its second iteration. This upcoming edition promises a profound exploration into the relationship between architecture and the elemental forces of nature, inviting participants to rethink design in an era defined by environmental shifts.

Reimagining Architecture's Relationship with Nature's Forces

Evolution from Festival to Biennial: A New Era for Copenhagen Architecture

Tracing its lineage from the 2014 CAFx festival, which evolved into the Copenhagen Architecture Forum in 2024, the initiative has transitioned from an annual event to a biennial. The inaugural Copenhagen Architecture Biennial took place in 2025, setting the stage for a more extensive and impactful series of events.

Unveiling the Theme: "Elements" for the 2027 Biennial

The second edition is scheduled to run from September 9 to October 15, 2027, under the overarching theme of "Elements." Following its predecessor's call to "Slow Down," this year's focus turns to the fundamental planetary forces that have historically been central to architectural endeavors, questioning humanity's long-held ambition to master and inhabit the natural world.

Challenging Modernity's Promise: Architecture's Role in a Changing Climate

The curatorial vision critically examines the modern ideal of boundless technological advancement, unconstrained by ecological, geographical, biological, or material limitations. Historically, architecture has been instrumental in upholding this promise, controlling factors like temperature, humidity, and physical contact with the environment. However, the organizers recognize that this foundational modern promise is increasingly untenable in a world grappling with rising global temperatures, pervasive air pollution, escalating sea levels, infertile land, and mounting pressure on vital natural resources. This evolving reality renders the aspiration of absolute control an undesirable future.

Designing with, Not Against, Nature: A New Architectural Ethic

The 2027 Biennial's theme emerges from this dual disillusionment, prompting a critical inquiry into how architecture can coexist with, build with, and plan with "elements," rather than against them, to sustain human existence. Key questions posed include: Which populations are safeguarded, and which remain vulnerable? What aspects of our environment should be preserved, and what must be permitted to evolve or decline? What novel forms of communal existence might arise from this revised perspective, encompassing daily habits, well-being, rituals, and collective care?

Curatorial Perspective: Embracing Dependence on Nature

Josephine Michau, a key figure in the Curatorial Collective and Director of the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial, articulates this shift: "For decades, architecture has promised us mastery over heat, earth, air and water. With 'Elements', we ask what happens when we stop pretending we ever had that mastery, and start designing from dependence instead? The buildings that will serve us best aren't the ones that shut the world out, they're the ones that let us feel it."

Event Highlights: Exhibitions, Symposium, and Open Call

The program will span Copenhagen's Cultural District and over 60 additional venues across the city. Notable highlights include four exhibitions that explore architecture's interaction with elemental forces, hosted at prominent locations such as the newly constructed Vandkulturhuset Papirøen by Kengo Kuma, Simian, Kunsthal Nord, and Halmtorvet 27. The professional symposium, "Assemble!," will concentrate on policy and regulatory frameworks that shape urban development, resource extraction, and consumption, building upon the inaugural edition's advocacy for new legislation. Following the acclaimed "Slow Pavilions," there will be another open call, inviting architects, designers, and researchers to submit proposals for new pavilions that respond to the "Elements" theme. Further details regarding exhibiting practices, pavilion winners, "Assemble!" speakers, and the comprehensive public events schedule will be released closer to the Biennial's opening.

A Vision for the Future: Architecture Rooted in Elemental Understanding

Josephine Michau, Founder and Chief Curator of CAFx and the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial, emphasizes the ambition: "With four exhibitions built around fire, earth, air and water, an open call for new public pavilions, and Assemble! Returning with a sharper focus on policy, the 2027 Biennial is our most ambitious attempt yet to make the elemental legible as the very ground of architecture itself."

Copenhagen's Global Context: A Livable City Leading Architectural Discourse

For the second consecutive year, Copenhagen was recognized as the world's most livable city in the 2026 Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index. This urban quality of life is partly attributed to the pioneering work of Danish architect and urban planner Jan Gehl, whose 90th birthday is being celebrated at the Danish Architecture Center with a series of activities and an exhibition. Globally, other architectural events are contributing to the advancement of the discipline. The Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) has released its "A Journey into Architecture Archives: Baghdad, Damascus, Tunis" documentary series online. In Chile, a gathering in Valparaíso aims to preserve traditional building crafts. Meanwhile, the 8th Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB 2026) will delve into the "True Cost of Architecture" with its theme, "How Much?," investigating the influence of cost, scarcity, and constraints on architectural productio

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Lixue Primary School: A New Campus Vision for Shenzhen's Longgang District

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The Lixue Primary School, envisioned by temp architects, represents a significant undertaking within Shenzhen's "Longgang New Campus Action Plan." This project is strategically situated at the convergence of Banlan Boulevard and Huancheng Road, an area characterized by its vibrant urban pulse and high-density residential zones. The school, slated for completion in 2026, spans an expansive 25,569 square meters and is designed to create an innovative and engaging learning environment for elementary students, seamlessly blending with its bustling surroundings while offering a sanctuary for education.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Longgang District Education Bureau and the Bureau of Public Works to modernize and expand educational infrastructure. The school's design reflects a forward-thinking approach to educational architecture, aiming to foster an optimal setting for children's growth and learning amidst a rapidly developing cityscape. Its location demands a design that can mitigate the noise and intensity of urban life, transforming potential distractions into opportunities for a dynamic educational experience.

The architectural team, led by Lin Yubo, Yang Jun, and Ku Hongfei, focused on creating spaces that are both functional and inspiring. The structural integrity and safety were ensured by Hong Kong Huayi Design Consultants (Shenzhen) Ltd., with contributions from Wang Yang and Li Xuehong. The landscape design, crafted by Shanghai Temp Architects Design & Consulting Co., Ltd., plays a crucial role in integrating green spaces and outdoor learning areas, providing a balanced environment for students. The comprehensive planning involved various specialists, including a robust scheme design team, meticulous project management by Huang Yuelin and Liu Hongke, and expert engineering for water supply, drainage, HVAC, and electrical systems.

The Lixue Primary School embodies a vision for contemporary education, emphasizing adaptable and stimulating environments that cater to the diverse needs of young learners. Its strategic placement and thoughtful design solutions aim to establish a benchmark for future educational developments in urban settings, proving that quality learning spaces can thrive even in the most dynamic cityscapes.

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Simpsons Bay House: A Harmony of Reuse and Nature on Bruny Island

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The Simpsons Bay House, a project by Dock4 Architects in collaboration with Giles Newstead, exemplifies a profound commitment to sustainable living and architectural integration with the environment. Located on Tasmania's picturesque Bruny Island, this 170-square-meter residence, completed in 2025, champions the principles of reuse and adaptive design. Rather than beginning with a predetermined palette of new materials, the design process was intricately shaped by the availability of existing resources. This approach, deeply inspired by the island's traditional rural sheds, agricultural buildings, and unassuming coastal structures, imbues the house with a familiar, utilitarian charm. Consequently, the dwelling harmonizes effortlessly with its bushland setting, offering a tranquil retreat that respects and reflects its natural context.

Simpsons Bay House: A Contemporary Retreat Rooted in Tasmanian Tradition

Nestled amidst the rugged beauty of Bruny Island, Tasmania, the recently completed Simpsons Bay House, a collaborative masterpiece by Dock4 Architects and Giles Newstead, redefines residential architecture through its innovative embrace of reuse and adaptation. Finished in 2025, this 170-square-meter dwelling stands as a beacon of sustainable design, drawing its core inspiration from the vernacular architecture of the island. Lead architects Richard Loney, Richard Brenchley, and Giles Newstead steered the project towards a unique material selection process, where available resources dictated the aesthetic and structural choices, rather than conventional new-build components. This strategic decision was heavily influenced by the simple, functional forms of local rural sheds and humble coastal structures, resulting in a residence that possesses an inherent, unpretentious character. The outcome is a home that not only seamlessly blends into its natural bush surroundings but also evokes a sense of timeless belonging, celebrating the raw, authentic spirit of Bruny Island.

The Simpsons Bay House offers a compelling perspective on how architectural design can thoughtfully engage with its environment. It challenges conventional approaches by prioritizing material efficiency and vernacular inspiration, demonstrating that beauty and functionality can emerge from embracing limitations and working in harmony with nature. This project serves as an inspiring blueprint for future developments, highlighting the potential for creating residences that are not just structures, but integral parts of their landscape, fostering a deeper connection between inhabitants and their surroundings.

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