48: How to make an IMPACT? (guest: Signe Kongebro - Global Design Director & Partner - Henning Larsen Architects)

Welcome to the newest episode of Urbcast! It’s time for the second episode of the Copenhagen Architecture Offices Series. In the series I will introduce you to the architecture offices based in Copenhagen which I admire. Today I wanted to introduce you to one of the biggest Danish architecture offices – Henning Larsen Architects. It was founded back in 1959 by renowned Danish architect Henning Larsen – The Master of Light.

I want to use the opportunity of being a part of such an interesting office, full of inspiring designers, architects and engineers and show you how it works. The office is drawing of Scandinavian tradition and develops architecture with a huge role of sustainability. Recently, after becoming a part of the Ramboll group the office is developing as one big unit: Architecture, Landscape and Urbanism.

The second guest of this series is Signe Kongebro - Global Design Director for Urbanism and Landscape and Partner at Henning Larsen Architects.

Signe is the founder of Henning Larsen’s sustainability department and she has been a member of Henning Larsen’s management since 2008, and as partner she was most recently tasked with heading the practice’s business activities in Scandinavia, with a special focus on the Danish market. 

We talked about:

• Signe's studies in New York and her first architecture studio
• Why did she apply to Henning Larsen and how did the networking look like 20 years ago?
• What has changed in the architect profession through the last 20 years?
• Why did she introduce sustainability in the office?
• How did sustainability change architecture?
• What can you learn from working in a different context: from Iceland to Saudi Arabia?
• How to use the weather in the design?
• How to glue architecture, landscape and urbanism?
• How many application does Henning Larsen Architect office get each month?
• What is the most important thing when you start your career as an architect?
• What is the role of podcasting in communicating architecture?

However, Signe did not recommend a book, she emphasized the role of the new media (including podcasts!) in communicating architecture, climate challenges and other current happenings (on Danish market especially):

Politiken
https://politiken.dk/

Byrum
https://politikenbyrum.dk/

You can follow & get to know about Signe:

On LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/signekongebro/?originalSubdomain=dk

HLA webiste
https://henninglarsen.com/en/people/partners/signe-kongebro 

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signe_Kongebro 

And Henning Larsen Architects:

On LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/henning-larsen/mycompany/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Henninglarsenarchitects

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/henninglarsenarchitects/