VELUX, Artelia and EFFEKT Hosts Roundtable discussion on Affordable, Resilient Housing: Can Quality and Affordability Coexist?

 

At VELUX, we believe that housing solutions should combine affordability, resilience, and quality of life. Living Places Copenhagen stands as proof of this, recently selected for the New European Bauhaus Affordable and Resilient Housing Catalogue - an initiative by the European Commission to be presented at the NEB Festival 2026.

 

This recognition reflects a foundational principle: Housing should support how people live while using resources responsibly and standing the test of time. Living Places Copenhagen demonstrates this by demonstrating ultra-low carbon footprint with optimal indoor climate, as well as affordability. Living Places shared extensive knowledge on how to combine daylight, fresh air, and materials, so that others can replicate and scale the concept. At VELUX, our approach to buildings centers on solutions that work in everyday life and that others can learn from and build on.

 

 

A cross-sector dialogue

Building on this commitment, the partnership behind Living Places teamed up with Copenhagen Architecture Forum, to facilitate a comprehensive roundtable discussion titled "Unaffordables" at DesignWerck on Refshaleøen in Copenhagen. The event brought together a diverse group of experts to examine how housing supply, systems of access, and urban demand interact to determine whether cities remain livable for broad populations or increasingly out of reach.

 

Moderated by Finn Williams, the conversation was structured around three distinct panels, each addressing critical aspects of housing affordability. The panels explored the following:

 

•           Pulls & Pressures examining urban demand dynamic and the factors drawing people to cities.

 

•           Forms & Footprints investigating how existing housing stock can be transformed and optimized, and questions around accelerating sustainable development.

 

•           Keys & Queues addressed the critical question of access when housing becomes scarce.

 

 

Integrated Solutions for Interconnected Crises

The roundtable revealed that the housing, sustainability, and quality crises are fundamentally intertwined, requiring integrated solutions rather than isolated responses.

Living Places Copenhagen demonstrated that healthy, livable homes can be built using one-third of the CO2 emissions over a lifecycle with materials already on the market. The challenge lies in implementation through financing and development.

The participants emphasized the critical role of collaboration, with industry providing data and vision to politicians while navigating the paradox where improving urban quality can make neighborhoods unaffordable for existing communities.

 

A sincere thanks to all participants for their invaluable contributions to this important conversation on affordable, resilient housing. The depth of expertise and collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout the roundtable reflects the cross-sector commitment needed to address these interconnected challenges.

 

 

Want to learn more? Explore the complete conversation and gain deeper insights into the future of affordable housing in Europe.