A Danish Housing Lab’ brings designs from Denmark to Seattle

This region has long celebrated its strong Scandinavian roots, and now there’s another exciting link in the mix. A new exhibition from Denmark is currently touring the Pacific Northwest through May. “Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab” centers around Nordic-inspired sustainable living.
The exhibit, presented at four locations in Seattle and Portland, features six groundbreaking, sustainable housing models created by renowned Danish architecture firms. The captivating displays are presented by Scan Design Foundation in partnership with D.C.’s Royal Danish Embassy (with support from various partners).
Line Larsen, Program Officer at Scan Design Foundation (SDF), explains that their organization works to enhance Danish-American relations, with a focus on environmental sustainability. “Denmark is a global green leader and excels in sustainable innovation, including sustainable architectural design methods,” she says, expanding upon the six architectural models currently being showcased. “What is unique is that these projects will be realized into full-scale housing experiments in Denmark,” she shares. “The exhibit lends these examples and architectural expertise from Denmark, which can be used as inspiration in a PNW context.”
The project came to be when SDF was approached by their partners at the Royal Danish Embassy in D.C. regarding a U.S. tour of the Housing Lab exhibition. “Seeing the value in the exhibition and how the ideas presented can be useful lessons in a U.S. context,” Larsen says, “we jumped at the opportunity to bring the exhibit to the Northwest.”
Through January, Seattleites can wander the exhibit in Gould Hall at the University of Washington College of Built Environments. The presentation also will be accompanied by a local panel series (see details below) that will explore the models in depth, while also sparking conversation about new housing models in the Pacific Northwest. After the exhibit is shown at UW, it travels to Portland — to Portland State University and Nordic Northwest.
And even after this specific project leaves our turf, Danish culture here continues to thrive. “Seattle has a strong Nordic presence,” Larsen shares, “and several specifically Danish organizations that host various events and programs throughout the year. Those include: Northwest Danish Association, Danish Sisterhood, Danish Brotherhood, the Danish Soccer Club, The Danish Club, UW Danish Studies Program. The main organization for Danish cultural events is Northwest Danish Association.”
For yet more pan-Nordic activities, check out the city’s main hub — the National Nordic Museum.
And for a cozy, Danish-themed café, Larsen recommends Cafe Hagen. (They have locations around Seattle and Bellevue.)
Lastly, this spring, SDF is sponsoring a mural made from Lego by Ai Wei Wei. Folks can visit the mural beginning in March at the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Find info for the Panel Series below:
January 15, 2025 | Starts at 11 a.m.
Virtual Panel with Architect Søren Nielsen: Circular Construction and Beyond
Location: Virtual Panel
Moderator: Rob Peña – UW Architecture
January 22, 2025 | 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Design in Depth: New Housing Models for a Changing PNW
Location: Gould Court
Panelists:
Grace H. Kim, FAIA, Co-Founding Principle, Schemata Workshop
Leah Martin, Co-Founder, Architect + Partner, Allied8
Rev. Dr. W. Tali Hairston, Executive Director, Nehemiah Initiative Seattle
Rick Mohler, FAIA, NCARB, Professor and Chair, UW Department of Architecture
January 24, 2025
Planning for Better Housing and Better Neighborhoods Walking Tour and Panel
Walking Tour from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Meet at Capitol Hill Light Rail Broadway and John entry
Panel Discussion from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Gould Hall
Introduction: Alex Brennan, Executive Director, Futurewise
Moderator: Lesley Bain, Framework Cultural Placemaking
Panelists:
David Pyle, Planning Director, City of Sammamish
Rico Quirindongo, Planning Director, City of Seattle
Heather Trautman, Planning Director, City of Airway Heights
Tory Laughlin Taylor, Housing Advisor
Robert Humble, Hybrid Architecture
The full panel series, along with panelist bios, can be found on this website.
Corinne Whiting is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. Follow more of her adventures here.
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