Cross-sectoral collaboration

Our cities will never become climate neutral if we do what we have always done. We need to think differently, involve and engage all stakeholders, and let sustainability become part of our everyday thinking and DNA. But most importantly, we need to include the dimension of beauty and aesthetics to turn the transformation into something irresistible.

Creating the desire path

In Desire, we talk about a ‘desire path’, the path created when people choose not to follow the path designed for them. The ‘desire path’ is instead the preferred path, the irresistible route they want to take.

Our journey towards the ‘desire path’ starts with a set of principles that we transform into actions. A first version of five principles have been defined, embracing the key elements of a future desire path. They are: belonging, circular mindset, planetary perspective, agency and aesthetics. The principles provide guidance and a framework for new ways of experimenting with urban transformation in different contexts, in Denmark and other European countries.

Finding an alternative vision

For instance, what happens if we initiate the transformation of a social housing area by nurturing a sense of belonging? Or if we embrace a planetary perspective and listen to the ‘voices’ of non-human species when refurbishing and developing urban areas? Can principles like these act as a desired path, opening up for new perspectives and new ideas to make the sustainable choices we must take become so attractive that they barely seem like a choice? That is the ambition.

Three examples

In Denmark, the following three case studies represent different contexts and different approaches to creating irresistible transformations. They examine Gadehavegaard, a social housing area in Høje Taastrup, Copenhagen; the redevelopment of Herlev asphalt factory; and Kalundborg, a smaller city on the west coast of Zealand, where urban transformation is being taken to the next level.

Each of these three sites – along with an additional five European sites – are prepared to test, experiment, and work with the principles, tools and new approaches. The project is all about thinking and acting differently. By the end of 2024, we will compile and share narratives, case studies and a white paper about what we have learned and where the experiments have led. New initiatives will follow.

With Desire, we aim to create a movement and to contribute to the movement of New European Bauhaus. Desire is the initial step forward.