In 2018 we won the competition to develop the last plot in Ørestad South. The detailed competition proposal featured the first housing development in the world to address all the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): UN17 Village. Our design included 400 new homes and the project had particular focus on using sustainable resources to create healthy communities.

The vision was to create not only an iconic and sustainable building from recycled materials, but also the opportunity for a sustainable lifestyle. UN17 Village therefore looks at the whole lifecycle of the building – including material use, health, and quality of life. The proposal comprises five housing blocks built from recycled concrete and wood, as well as upcycled windows and each focusing on a different point of action: biodiversity, energy, health, water and air.

The structures would rely on sustainable energy. Each building topped with a rooftop garden, to encourage biodiversity, and they would also feature rainwater collection capable of recycling 1.5 million liters of water every year.

37 different housing typologies with a mix of family dwellings, co-living spaces and senior accommodation would secure diversity, and in total house up to 830 people, including 175 children and 100 older residents and create an estimated 100 jobs. The aim was to reduce inequality, by creating a diverse and strong neighbourhood, to further this, 3,000 square-metres of the complex is dedicated to communal spaces for use by both the residents and the people of Ørestad. Other facilities will include a conference centre that hosts sustainability-focused events, an organic restaurant, greenhouses and food-sharing facilities, to encourage people to grow their own food and reduce waste.