BLOX Gives Open Access to Tools for Better Societies

Designed by OMA, since it opened in 2018, BLOX has transformed Copenhagen's historic harborfront in the city's heart into a vibrant and synergistic hub for the arts. BLOX is an open collaboration that brings fresh ideas across architecture, design, sustainable urbanism, and creative entrepreneurship. As part of the 2023 UIA Congress, the BLOX tour was held in the spirit of the event's theme, 'strengthening resilient communities, nurturing inclusivity, and enabling partnerships for change'.

Photo by Nikolai Linares

This tour takes visitors to the four organizations inside BLOX: Creative Denmark, BLOXHUB, Danish Architecture Center, and Danish Design Center. The aim is to engage Danish society in general and creative or professional players, in particular, to create creative spaces in Copenhagen in the future.

Photo by Nikolai Linares

In addition, this event was held to see the solutions offered by BLOX when it first opened 5 years ago, bringing together activists of sustainable urban development to help shape a better future through collaboration. This appeal is manifested in a tour through several sides of BLOX at various levels to discover more deeply what solutions the four organizations offer.

Photo by Nikolai Linares

Creative Denmark is a public-private initiative non-profit organization that focuses on monitoring developments across the Danish industry and aims to connect its products and competencies in the creative sector. In this building, visitors can explore how creativity and innovation from Denmark can contribute to sustainability, improve quality of life, and address global challenges such as inclusivity and resilience.

Photo by Rasmus Hjortshoj

BLOXHUB has a dynamic ecosystem of approximately 350 members, including organizations, companies, research institutes, representative cities, and embassies. This block on the 3rd floor invites visitors to see how sustainable urbanization can solve the above problems. BLOXHUB accommodates a vibrant co-working space for its members to make Copenhagen more 'visible' in the future.

Photo by Rasmus Hjortshoj

Danish Architecture Center This block is centered on the second level of BLOX. Visitors can freely explore the advancing Danish architectural language and design through exhibitions, tours, events, and networking. This organization has a special vision, 'architecture always has its way of shaping the quality of people's lives'. Thus, the Danish Architecture Center was appointed as a barometer of the movement of Danish architects to create a new, sustainable society.

Finally, the Danish Design Center is an institution within BLOX that has used design as a method and mindset to create something more global and sustainable for over four decades. On this occasion, the Danish Design Center redesigned the organization and developed their goal that design is capable of supporting the development of a new society and being the best circular solution.

Photo by Rasmus Hjortshoj