Exploring Sustainable Properties in Early Modern Danish Architecture

At present one finds a strong awareness about building sustainably in the Nordic region. This awareness developed from the early 1970s from both political ideals and a crisis in attaining resources; however could it be that sustainable approaches in architecture may stem from traditions and practices developed at an earlier stage? This paper follows this assumption by tracing aspects of sustainability of early modern Danish architecture before current concepts of sustainable architecture were developed.
Relevance for this study is identified from a need to improve an understanding of approaches of sustainable architecture as a mean to possibly improve this practice.
Using Danish architecture as an exemplifying case, this paper traces positions on environment in relation to architecture between approximately 1920 and 1970 through literature studies. Included written works are by Kay Fisker, Tobias Faber and Nils-Ole Lund to conclude by discussing positions identified through the readings in relation to the housing complex: Søholm I by Arne Jacobsen.
Findings include how there has been a development in both practices as well as traditions of this studied period about relating to the environment from a closed to a more open architecture. This were from a homogeneous building structure of a “mass” to withstand a rough climate, to a more open building structure integrating outside surroundings. Obtaining a balance between these two different positions to the environment is identified as important for architecture of this studied period, which can also be of interest for a sustainable development today.