- Henning
- Larsen
As architects, we are tuned in to the lives of those who use our buildings. People’s dreams – about how they want to live their lives, how they pursue inspiration and education, and how they work – are constantly changing and evolving. These changes can be captured, fostered, even kickstarted by the environments they live, work, and play in. Our goal is to create generous spaces in which the unexpected can occur. We do this by being curious.
Architecture today is not limited to designing and building – it encompasses a far extended scope, in which creativity, research, and knowledge are fundamental. By actively co-creating at the early phases of the design process, we continually advance the quality of our designs, from early phase through to project completion, where we measure the effects and impact.
Open, not opening hours: when designing cultural venues, our goal is to create places that can come to life around the clock. We develop cultural landmarks as unique, identity-creating generators for people and cities, giving people the opportunity to experience the unexpected. In our work with museums, concert halls, libraries, and conference centers, we have seen how they can also generate growth in urban areas struggling with economic slowdowns or poor urban planning. At its core, every cultural building must create an optimal environment for performance and display – but for it to come to life, it must also be a place where the community can come together.
Civic spaces belong to the people. Our interaction with civic spaces can range from the casual (paying a parking ticket) to the significant (appearing in court), but regardless of purpose they must always be places where the public feels welcome and comfortable. We focus especially on designing civic spaces that inspire human interaction and community, fostering wellbeing indoors and out.
We create the framework for tomorrow’s companies and workforce, designing buildings that challenge conventional thinking and set the standards for innovation. Work and workforces are changing rapidly, altering the needs of workspaces as they do. We develop office and headquarter projects as communities, striving to create liveable places that employees can identify with.
We create dynamic learning environments. Our schools, universities, and technically-advanced research units are all designed on the principle of varied and active learning. There must be space for focused collective learning, zones for individual contemplation, and areas where informal meetings can spontaneously occur. More and more educational institutions are also seeking to enhance contact with the city and community surrounding them. As architects, we can help achieve this by designing spaces that are open and flexible, where the business community, teachers, and students can exchange knowledge and experience.