Improving the quality of life through the built environment

The strategic foundation Realdania has joined Danish EXPO 2010 participation because the EXPO theme “Better City, Better Life” is a perfect match for the foundation’s overall mission. Realdania wants to take responsibility for finding ways to develop an urban environment based on sustainability.

Right on the waterfront in the centre of Copenhagen, the headquarters of Realdania is located in a beautiful building designed by Danish architect Henning Larsen. Managing Director Flemming Borreskov has accepted to give an interview in his office on the first floor, where one wall is made entirely of glass, revealing a splendid view of the Royal Library’s Black Diamond building across the harbour basin.

Why did Realdania engage in EXPO 2010?

“Before Denmark decided to participate in 2010 EXPO, I and one of my co-managers went to Shanghai. When we heard about the overall EXPO theme “Better City, Better Life”, we knew instantly that Realdania ought to get involved. Later, when Denmark had made the decision to participate, we found it obvious to support the participation with financial means and the level of expertise we have attained at Realdania over the last few years,” he says.

According to Flemming Borreskov, cities pose a formidable challenge to a large number of countries – not just China. Internal migration from country to city is something that most governments in the third world will have to deal with.

“It is food for thought that, in 2007 for the first time ever, more than half of the world’s population was living in cities. Within the last 20 years, more than 400 million people have moved from the rural districts in China to the big cities, and this has obviously required a huge degree of urban planning. Considering that the Chinese authorities expect another 400 million to move to the cities within the next 20 years, the challenge has not diminished. The EXPO theme “Better City, Better Life” is as important as ever and relevant far beyond the borders of China. That is why we support Danish participation in Shanghai.” 

How can Denmark contribute to EXPO 2010?

“Denmark has a lot to offer in terms of urban planning. We have many brilliant architects, town planners, engineers, and developers of building materials, and we have been responding to the challenge of finding sustainable solutions within climate and energy in all the Nordic countries for several years. Of course, we can still improve our competences, but I am convinced that our experience with sustainable building enables us to contribute constructive solutions in Shanghai.”  

What is your opinion of the Danish pavilion project?

I think that the winning project “Welfairytales” is a very good one. It is a spectacular pavilion with great exhibition facilities. An EXPO pavilion is supposed to cope with a lot of different functions, and “Welfairytales” provides good solutions to all of them, just as the location in the EXPO area is close to perfect with good infrastructure and inspiring neighbours. I am sure that the pavilion designed by architects BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group will uphold the Danish tradition of leaving a design and architectural mark on world exhibitions. The winning project lives up to the overall EXPO theme “Better City, Better Life”, clearly proving that Denmark is an international frontrunner when it comes to finding convincing solutions to future urban design and development.”

Why is EXPO 2010 important?

“It is the first time that a world exhibition focuses on the development of big cities. The pressure on the cities is great and increasing, which poses huge financial, social, environmental and health challenges. The fact that EXPO 2010 highlights energy consumption, sustainability, quality of life and welfare makes it a very important event. In the age of globalization, it is vital to take up the urban challenge as early as possible, and, in my view, this EXPO will certainly make a difference.

All this takes time, however. While designing a new building may take three to five years, redesigning a city takes several generations. A wise man once said that any change of reality implies a change of mind. If we consider the COP15 summit in Copenhagen 2009 to be the starting point, EXPO 2010 Shanghai could very well be the next milestone in the process towards better cities. The mega cities are problematic, indeed, but at the same time they are a prerequisite for raising living standards in the developing countries.”

Text by Per Brandt Laursen

Photo by Bjarke Ørsted