Living Places

Living Places is an innovative housing initiative launched in Copenhagen by VELUX in collaboration with EFFEKT Architects and Artelia. The project addresses the urgent need for sustainable and healthy buildings by reimagining how homes are designed, built, and experienced. Set in the Jernbanebyen district, Living Places Copenhagen features a village of seven full-scale prototypes—two completed homes and five open pavilions—serving as both an exhibition and a living laboratory for new solutions in sustainable housing. These prototypes were meticulously designed to achieve an ultra-low carbon footprint of 3.8 kg CO2/m²/year, which is three times lower than the current Danish legal standard, without increasing construction costs. The homes are built using timber, prioritizing environmental responsibility across the entire lifecycle—from material sourcing to eventual disassembly and reuse. Each unit embodies the project's five guiding principles: health, affordability, simplicity, scalability, and communal living. A central focus of Living Places is the optimization of indoor climate. The homes utilize advanced ventilation, abundant natural light, and smart controls, earning a top-tier ranking for indoor environmental quality. The communal layout encourages interaction and well-being, integrating green spaces and gardens for resident use. By demonstrating that sustainable, scalable, and affordable homes are achievable now with existing technologies, Living Places aims to inspire industry-wide change and prove that healthy, low-impact housing can become the new norm for future living.