Copenhagen joins the cities that host architectural Biennales. What will distinguish it from other host cities of cyclical architectural festivals? The Danish edition has been saying since the first edition: slow down. Among the presented projects, there will be no shortage of Polish interpretations of this slogan.
© Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
time for a big slowdown
The first Copenhagen Architecture Biennial will take place from September 18 to October 19, 2025, under the theme "Slow Down," or slow down.
The theme Slow Down invites participants to reconsider the rapid pace of modern life and its impact on the built environment. As the world faces the consequences of the Great Acceleration—characterised by unprecedented growth in population, energy use, and resource consumption—the biennial seeks to explore how architecture can contribute to a Great
Deceleration
—explain the organizers.
The event is curated by Josephine Michau, a philosopher who has been involved in the production of cultural events for years, founder of the Copenhagen Architecture Forum, which is responsible for organizing the Biennale, and creator of the exhibition in the Pavilion of Denmark at the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2023.
Josephine Michau, curator of the Copenhagen Architecture Biennale
Photo: Sabina Hodovic | © organizer's press materials
slow architecture
The architecture of the 21st century, the organizers stress, will be slow. But are we capable of slowing down destruction, consumerism, betting on slowing down? Allow certain processes to take longer, to have time for reflection, observation, to reduce waste and increase repair?
The rich program (more than 150 events are planned!) includes, among other things, the presentation of pavilions selected in the open call— projects by the duo Slaatto Morsbøl (Thelma Slaatto and Cecilie Morsbøl) and Tom Svilans together with THISS Studio.
Tom Svilans x THISS Studio project pavilion
© Tom Svilans x THISS Studio | organizer's press materials
Pavilions serve as vital testbeds for sustainable architecture—offering a unique opportunity to experiment with innovative materials, circular design principles, and low impact construction techniques. Their temporary nature encourages bold exploration, allowing architects to push boundaries, rethink resource efficiency, and inspire new approaches to building for a more sustainable future
—Lars Autrup, director of the Danish Architects Association and jury member, said of the selected projects.
Slaatto Morsbøl design pavilion
© Slaatto Morsbøl | organizer's press materials
Open Call has also been announced for the projects presented at the "Slow Down" exhibition, which will be presented at two venues: Halmtorvet 27 in Copenhagen and Form/design Center in Malmö.
The exhibition aims to present new narratives and concepts for the cultural imagination too related to speed, such as shock and surge, friction and frenzy, fatigue and whirlpool
—the organizers add.
Out of 430 submissions, 24 proposals were selected, among them—the proposal of Centrala "Celestial Architecture". Congratulations!
You can read about how Malgorzata Kuciewicz and Simone De Iacobis of Centrala incorporate sensory experience and observation of ephemeral phenomena into their architectural practice in the conversation: Water, light, wind, gravity—a course in designing with the elements and calibrating the architectural sense.
Malgorzata Kuciewicz and Simone De Iacobis
Photo: Tomasz Kubaczyk
