BLOXHUB

Happy Holidays from BLOXHUB As 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank our amazing members, partners, and collaborators for making this year truly remarkable. ✨ Key Highlights from 2024: - Expanding Global Reach: Strengthened international partnerships, including our growing presence and collaborations in Japan and the US. - Bridging Science and Practice: Launched the Applied Science Forum, a platform dedicated to turning research into actionable solutions for the industry. - Driving Regenerative Innovation: Embraced the Doughnut Model and leaned into regenerative city design, creating holistic frameworks for thriving within planetary boundaries. - Shaping Sustainable Housing: Released the White Paper on Decarbonizing Social Housing, addressing critical needs for affordable, climate-conscious living solutions. - Community & Connection: Hosted vibrant social events, from Thursday bars to symposiums, creating spaces for informal collaboration. Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a 2025 filled with inspiration and continued collaboration. Warm wishes, The BLOXHUB Team

Introducing the Young Talent Network 🌟 Are you a passionate young professional eager to make a lasting impact in sustainability and the circular economy? We’re thrilled to launch the Young Talent Network – an initiative designed to empower the next generation of leaders to tackle complex sustainability challenges with innovative solutions. What is the Young Talent Network? This dynamic network brings together 15–20 ambitious individuals from diverse backgrounds—corporate roles, startups, and beyond—for a transformative one-year program. Together, we’ll explore critical topics like policy, innovation, and leadership, creating a platform for growth, collaboration, and impactful change. What to Expect: - Over the course of four events in 2025, members will: - Build connections with peers and industry leaders. - Engage in hands-on workshops and interactive discussions. - Learn from experts in policy, innovation, and circular economy. - Develop leadership skills and explore opportunities like advisory board roles. Who Should Apply? We’re looking for driven individuals who are: - Committed to solving sustainability challenges. - Excited to collaborate and co-create with like-minded professionals. - Ready to actively contribute to a vibrant community of sustainability leaders. Why Join? - Build a strong network of peers and mentors. - Gain knowledge and tools to drive sustainable change. - Participate in fully-funded events (transportation not included). Mark Your Calendar: 1st Meeting (January 24th): Building a Network 2nd Meeting (March 27th): Policy in Action – Public-private partnership 3rd Meeting (May 22nd): Advisory Board Impact – How to Get Started 4th Meeting (September 25th): Innovation & Future Leadership Commitment Matters: Seats are limited, and members are expected to attend all sessions hosted at BLOXHUB in Copenhagen. Active participation is essential, as you’ll play a key role in the success of this initiative and serve as an ambassador for sustainability. Applications are now open: https://lnkd.in/d-eBb69e We can’t wait to hear from you. Cornelia T. S. Jakobsen, Kathrine Hagemann Snabe

🇺🇸🤝🇩🇰: More Feet on the Street - Unlocking a Sense of Place for a Vibrant Tacoma Downtown Many US cities are facing challenges in bouncing back after nearly two years of Covid lockdowns. Empty streets and a lack of thriving business environments have left downtown areas feeling deserted and unsafe, and local stakeholders are working hard to find solutions that can truly make a difference. We believe that the key to thriving urban environments lies in unlocking a sense of place — the unique identity and emotional connection people feel toward a location. Over the past two years, we’ve partnered with cities across North America to share insights and co-create strategies that turn empty streets into vibrant neighborhoods. Our collaboration with the City of Tacoma is a shining example. Guided by the vision of “More Feet on the Street,” local stakeholders and BLOXHUB member experts have been working together to transform Tacoma’s downtown. During recent deep-dive workshops, we were inspired by the dedication of everyone involved — from school organizations to parking officers — who came together to co-create solutions for their beloved city. The City of Tacoma has embraced the opportunity to combine local expertise with fresh, outside perspectives, creating the perfect environment for innovative solutions. With the Playbook for Downtown Transformation (https://lnkd.in/drkvmeFs) complete, we’re excited to take the next step: launching the Action Plan for Tacoma. Victoria Woodards, Debbie Bingham, Bucoda Warren, MPA, Paige Armstrong, Ishmeet Singh, Blaine Merker, Matthew Claudel, Enlai Hooi, Christian Ernst, Martine Reinhold Kildeby, Lotte Christina Breengaard, Sofie Lynge Jespersen

🎧 New Podcast Episode: Exploring How Japan and Denmark Approach the Building Sector 🇯🇵🇩🇰 The journey to reduce emissions is a global challenge, but the paths we take differ based on culture, context, and geography. Nowhere is this clearer than in the built environment, where local practices and traditions shape how we approach decarbonization. In Europe, restoration is key — adapting historical buildings to enhance energy efficiency and preserve cultural heritage. In Japan, impermanence takes center stage, with homes often rebuilt every 30 years due to natural disasters and cultural values. What can these vastly different approaches teach us about decarbonizing the building sector? In the latest episode of FORESIGHT Climate & Energy's The Urban Report, experts from Denmark and Japan come together to explore this question: 🎙 Claus Mathisen (Co-CEO & Partner, Urban Partners) 🎙 Signe Kongebro (Global Design Director & Partner, Henning Larsen) 🎙 Jakob Norman-Hansen (Director, Global Networks & Partnerships, BLOXHUB) 🎙 Jun Mitsui, (Founder & CEO, Jun Mitsui and Associates) Together, they unpack how Nordic and Japanese perspectives can inform each other, tackling the nuances of sustainability, resilience, and innovation in the built environment. 💡 Listen now on your favorite platform: https://lnkd.in/dPkZ_Vpf Ann-Britt Elvin Andersen, Sean Carroll, Kasper Thejll-Karstensen, ULI Japan, Sydney Owen

🌱 What’s Next for Biodiversity in the Built Environment? The construction industry is one of the world's largest consumers of natural resources, playing a major role in protecting and enhancing biodiversity. But how can we take actionable steps toward a more biodiversity-friendly construction practice? BLOXHUB and ConTech Lab - en del af Molio invite you to a dialogue on biodiversity in the construction industry. We will present findings from a new study that provides a current overview of how the industry is addressing biodiversity and showcase companies that are already taking steps and sharing their solutions to inspire the field. We’ll explore critical questions such as: - How do we work with biodiversity? - How do we measure biodiversity impact? - How can we foster cross-disciplinary collaboration? This event is an opportunity to learn, share experiences, and contribute to the development of a more nature-freindly construction sector. 📅 When? December 2, 2024, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM 📍 Where? BLOXHUB More info and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eQHxfC7b Christina Hvid, Ole Berard, Christina Juell-Sundbye, Dan Skovgaard Jensen, Rie L.M. Petersen

Fresh from a trip to the U.S., we’re inspired by cities that - much like the Fall leaves🍂 - are undergoing colorful transformations. We’ve observed three standout approaches to urban development: revitalizing heritage, driving policy-based decarbonization, and prioritizing livability as an economic driver. While Detroit and New York exemplify the first two, we’re actively collaborating with Tacoma on the third. With more partnerships on the horizon, these diverse strategies highlight how cities can evolve to be more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. 🏛️ Revitalization Through Heritage in Detroit The story of Detroit is one of resilience and renewal, evolving from its 2013 bankruptcy into a growing center for innovation and new economic activity. Initiatives like Michigan Central, a new mobility innovation district located in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, and Bedrock’s adaptive reuse of iconic buildings highlight a blend of historical preservation and forward-looking design. This approach offers a blueprint for cities that seek to integrate their heritage into a sustainable future, showing how sustainable transformation can be driven by local spirit and vision. 🗽Policy-Driven Decarbonization and Emissions Reduction in New York City New York City is embracing urban decarbonization with Local Law 97 (LL97), enacted in 2019 as part of the Climate Mobilization Act and the first Building Performance Standard (BPS) in the U.S. LL97 requires significant emissions reductions in buildings over 25,000 square feet, impacting over 50,000 privately owned structures. The goal: a 40% emissions cut by 2030 and 80% by 2050. This legislation has set a new standard for urban sustainability, inspiring similar policies in other American cities, and demonstrates how proactive policy can drive measurable progress in creating greener cities. 👥Livability as an Economic Driver in Tacoma Tacoma is in the process of reshaping itself from an industrial port city to a more livable, community-focused urban center. Known for its manufacturing and shipping history, Tacoma is now focusing on quality-of-life improvements, such as green spaces, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and cultural amenities to attract residents and businesses. This shift places livability at the core of economic growth, illustrating how smaller cities can balance industrial heritage with a vibrant, inclusive future.  Read more about Tacoma in our playbook: https://lnkd.in/d6ynRwh8 As some cities across the U.S. take steps toward sustainable futures, we’re inspired by their progress and look forward to contributing to dialogues and collaborations that advance resilient and regenerative urban development. More to come. Martine Reinhold Kildeby, Ann-Britt Elvin Andersen, Lotte Christina Breengaard, Sofie Lynge Jespersen

🇪🇺How Can Citizens Drive Europe’s Urban Transformation Toward a Just and Green Future? As Europe set sails on a new chapter with the European Parliament and Commission, the need for citizen involvement in sustainable urban transformation has never been more urgent. In the latest edition of Euractiv, read Torben Klitgaard’s insights on how the Desire an Irresistible Circular Society project — an EU New European Bauhaus project — has advocated community-driven approaches across Europe that inspire greener, more inclusive cities. 🛠️ Explore Place-Based Transformation Read about the real impact of projects in Kalundborg, Ljubljana, and Milan, where local citizens, artists, designers, and architects have reimagined urban spaces. Dive into how communities are taking the lead in shaping vibrant, resilient neighborhoods that meet local needs. 🎨 Learn How Art and Design Fuel Change See how artistic practices, like the Garden Caretaker in Herlev and Desire benches in Milan, connect communities to their surroundings, making urban spaces more engaging, inclusive, and beautiful. The Desire an Irresistible Circular Society project reveals that sustainable urban transformation thrives on citizen involvement, trust-building, and co-design. Learn how these principles can shape policies that align with local needs, fostering vibrant, inclusive cities across Europe: https://lnkd.in/dqAJQ9Dm Aase Højlund Nielsen #NEB #NewEuropeanBauhaus #urbantransformation

How Can We Reimagine Housing to Serve the Many Over the Few? Ditte Lysgaard Vind, our Chief Science & Innovation Officer, dives into a vital debate on the role of construction in Europe in a recent op-ed in Byrummonitor. With affordable housing and CO₂ reduction among Europe’s greatest challenges, can we create living spaces that prioritize well-being and sustainability over short-term profits? Here are some key takeaways from her op-ed: 💡 Balancing Profit and Purpose: Building should benefit the many, not the few. Institutional investors are essential, yet the industry’s core mission remains creating environments that promote well-being and livability. 🏡 Housing as a Human Right: The op-ed reminds us that adequate housing is a recognized human right in the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). The industry must remember its social and environmental responsibilities. 🌱 Shift Away from Speculation to Sustainable Models: To address the housing and climate crises, we need new models that prioritize people and planet over profit. 🇩🇰 Denmark as a Model: Denmark’s collaborative housing approaches showcase innovative solutions that Europe could emulate. From cooperative housing to infrastructure investments in renewable energy, Danish practices offer valuable lessons. Through partnerships across industry, policy, and civil society, we are committed to driving this transformation. Read Ditte's full op-ed (in Danish) here: https://lnkd.in/dr_BXK7v For further insights into sustainable housing solutions, explore our recently published white paper on this very topic: https://lnkd.in/dM-Ds5Z2 #SustainableCities #AffordableHousing #Livability

Is Housing the Key to a Low-Carbon Society? Download Our Latest White Paper to Find Out We’re excited to share our latest white paper Building Equity: Housing as a Key to a Low-Carbon Society, created in collaboration with The Shift and with support from the Laudes Foundation. This in-depth report examines how housing can serve as a lever for both environmental and social equity, focusing on the crucial intersection of affordable housing and decarbonization. Key insights from the report include: - Housing as a Human Right: Recognizing housing as a fundamental right enables more sustainable, inclusive urban development -Unlocking Social Value in Housing: Addressing both decarbonization and affordability can lead to lower energy costs and long-term stability for residents. -Cross-Sector Collaboration: Partnerships between public and private sectors and community engagement are essential for scalable solutions. -Innovative Investment Models: Structured investment in housing as infrastructure fosters community ownership and economic stability. Additionally, this white paper aligns with The Shift's Investor Guidelines, which outline actionable steps for institutional investors to integrate human rights and social value into housing investments. By following these guidelines, investors can mitigate risks, strengthen communities, and contribute to a sustainable, responsible housing sector. 👉 Download the full white paper here: https://lnkd.in/dM-Ds5Z2 👉 Access The Shift's Investor Guidelines here:  https://lnkd.in/dejPWt6z Ditte Lysgaard Vind, Cornelia T. S. Jakobsen, Leilani Farha, Kasper Guldager Jensen, Jesse Shapins, James Drinkwater