Start With Children: Kristian Villadsen

Kristian Villadsen: Urban Life and Sustainable Behavior in Copenhagen.

What makes urban life truly enjoyable and livable for everyone—and how can these principles be incorporated into urban planning and design from the very beginning?

In this lecture, Kristian Villadsen, an architect and urban strategist from Copenhagen with over 20 years of experience as a partner and director at Gehl and later BRIQ, will present his unique perspective on creating vibrant, attractive, and family-friendly urban neighborhoods.

Drawing on his work on award-winning projects such as Carlsberg Byen in Copenhagen, the Meatpacking District in Stockholm, and Travbyen in Billund, he will demonstrate the powerful impact that urban living strategies can have on the shape of modern cities. He actively collaborates with cities such as Copenhagen, Berlin, Stockholm, and Shanghai, and also serves as a member of the advisory committee for the International Building Exhibition Stuttgart 2027.

In his lecture, Kristian will focus on how family-oriented design can promote sustainable behavior while integrating innovative commercial and social approaches into the fabric of urban neighborhoods.

Participants will gain practical insights into placemaking and how well-thought-out strategies can create inclusive environments where people of all ages feel at home.

The partners of Start with Children 2026 are the Alianz Foundation and the Karel Komárek Family Foundation.

Registration is required at the website.