IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

Improving social interaction and human well-being: The power/potential of smart hybrid typologies – shaping better cities. In this talk, I will be discussing the concept of “synergetic hybrids” and their role in activating cities. Unlike simple stacked mixed-use projects, synergetic hybrids require human interaction to be fully functional. By bringing together unexpected programs within a single building, these hybrids are able to operate 24/7 and offer increased flexibility, adaptability, and resilience to unforeseen events like pandemics for example. As we strive to build more efficiently, and sustainably, smart hybrids offer a compact yet generous approach that promotes equity, social connection, and sense of community. They act as catalysts for urban development and aim at having a positive impact that goes beyond their own building plots. Through examples from Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, rooted in a Scandinavian democratic approach to design, I will be showcasing some of the successful hybrid buildings the company has designed and explain how their ecological approach make them key assets within their neighborhoods and the city. Buildings like “Fisketorvet”, the transformation of a large shopping mall in central Copenhagen, re-think large structures to adapt as people today buy more online. Or DOKK1, a library that is also a community space, transport hub, and public service center in Aarhus attracting citizens who would normally not go to a library. Or Malmö Live that combines private programs like a hotel and a conference center with a traditionally exclusive space like a philharmonic scene while still being open, inviting, and porous for any citizen to cross.