Can design strengthen community?

Can design strengthen community?

From Let's Talk Architecture by Danish Architecture Center – DAC

August 28, 2025 · 33 min

About this episode

The episode explores the creation of new community spaces in Denmark using recycled materials and features an interview with architect Simeon Østerlund Bamford.

Right now, 150 new community spaces are being built across Denmark – primarily using recycled materials – as part of an extraordinary project called Vores Sted ( Our Place ). Funded by the Danish philanthropic association Realdania , the project aims to rein v ent the community gathering place for the 21 st century. The community spaces, designed as four distinct types of pavilions, are the result of a c ollaboration between Danish architect ural firm s ReVærk , Cobe, Archival Studies, pihlmann architects, Rumgehør og Studio XYZ. In this episode our host Michael Booth, takes a trip to the southern Jutland town of Tønder with ReVærk's founding partner, Simeon Østerlund Bamford, to visit one of the new pavilions - and to discover the surprising source of the materials used to buil d it. Guest: Simeon Østerlund Bamford, Partner ReVærk Host: Michael Booth Let's Talk Architecture is a podcast by Danish Architecture Center. Sound edits by Munck Studios.

People in this episode

Host: Michael Booth

Guest: Simeon Østerlund Bamford

Topics covered

  • community spaces
  • recycled materials
  • architecture
  • design
  • collaboration
  • pavilions

Keywords

  • community gathering
  • Vores Sted
  • pavilions
  • Danish architecture
  • sustainable design
  • Realdania
  • ReVærk

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ReVærk, Cobe, Archival Studies, pihlmann architects, Rumgehør, Studio XYZ, Realdania

Places: Tønder, Denmark

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