Shaping the Settings of Everyday Life

A coastal sunset lookout for everyone. A historic glass factory converted into a modern glass museum. The transformation of a four-lane highway into a revitalised urban space. Realdania is working to make a difference.

Realdania is a philanthropic association which works to improve the quality of life for current and future generations by investing in and supporting the built environment. The built environment includes cities, towns and homes, as well as the urban spaces, parks and buildings where we work, go to school, meet up with friends, spend our free time and generally live our lives. These are the places and surroundings that are integral to the quality of our lives, our health and our relationships with one other. By investing time, knowledge and money in the built environment, Realdania is continually contributing towards improving the places where we live our everyday lives.

From City to Country

Realdania supports a diverse range of projects. These include restoring manor houses, developing harbour environments and supporting volunteer-led projects such as the Cirkusfabrikken circus school (> 166) and the cultural centre in the Bovbjerg Lighthouse (> 116). Other long-term projects include the establishment of new cultural buildings such as the Wadden Sea Centre (> 107) on the west coast of Jutland, Kunsthal Spritten in Aalborg (> 160) and the Children’s Universe at The Royal Danish Theatre (> 15) in Copenhagen.

Major urban development projects, such as the transformation of the fourlane Thomas B. Thriges Gade highway in Odense, Denmark’s third-largest city (> 78), are arguably the most impactful. Urban planning reflects the values and priorities of the city: when the highway was built in the 1960s, the idea was to create easier access to the industrial port, the city’s economic centre. Today, this former highway has been transformed into a vibrant urban space with sustainability firmly at its centre.

Realdania also focuses on areas outside of major cities, with several projects focused on breathing new life into these areas. Projects like urban development in Nakskov (> 63) and a development plan for tourism on the west coast of Jutland are about ensuring growth across Denmark and restoring pride and attractiveness to areas where the population is on the decline.

Addressing Complex Challenges

Rising sea levels. Depopulation in rural areas. Homelessness. All of these are complex societal issues which Realdania works on, with the built environment as a driving force for change. Projects which can provide immediate quality of life –like new housing for young homeless people, new initiatives for community building, and improving the indoor environment of schools.

At the same time, the aim is to push the boundaries of the built environment, to move construction in a sustainable direction and for each project to be a pioneering example for others. The climate adaptation and improved tourism initiatives in the UNESCO Heritage area of Tøndermarsken in Southern Jutland, for example, can help inspire other municipalities in their attempts to attract more visitors to their local area. While the development of innovative communal housing for the elderly in Ringkøbing’s new residential neighbourhood can act as inspiration for both private developers and public housing organisations in the future.

As a philanthropic association, Realdania is aware of its influence. Since 2000, it has funded 4,750 projects all across Denmark, contributing more than DKK 22 billion to society. Realdania supports big and small projects alike, with many being initiated by dedicated locals and communities. It has also expanded its focus to supporting major efforts aimed at solving difficult social challenges where the built environment plays a role.

Many of the major issues we face today are global in nature and require international collaboration. Which is why Realdania also works with international partners and organisations on initiatives that have a positive impact on Denmark. One example is C40, a global network of mayors from the world’s biggest cities working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase each city’s resistance to climate change.

An Association With Impact

Realdania’s approach is problem-driven and agenda-setting. Its strategy is simple: identify a problem, find the right solution and (hopefully) create a lasting impact. All in close collaboration with the relevant stakeholders for a particular issue. Collaboration is central to Realdania’s way of working. Local partnerships and common solutions are core values. Partners range from a small association consisting of a handful of dedicated local volunteers, to the state, municipalities, pension companies, public housing organisations or innovative companies developing sustainable solutions for the future. Experience shows that projects achieve the best success if they are volunteer-led, as this ensures that they continue once the project period is over. Preliminary investigations and analyses help to clarify whether a project is the right fit and relevant for the problem or place in question. Depending on the task and the challenge, Realdania works with a variety of projects and tools and strongly believes in its role as both a business partner and mediator for all relevant stakeholders. Respect, openness and trust are essential for any good partnership, whether the partner is a mill or a municipality.