Crown Prince Frederik has taken on a new patronage this year as Copenhagen’s architecture takes centre stage.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Association of Architects have designated Copenhagen as its World Capital of Architecture for 2023.
As patron, Crown Prince Frederik will take part in events throughout the year to celebrate Copenhagen’s architecture, starting with an opening ceremony on 17 January at Copenhagen City Hall.
Copenhagen’s hosting year is framed around the concept of ‘Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind’ and will focus on how to build using the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as the framework.
The Danish Royal House said in its announcement that Crown Prince Frederik will be joined by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Technology and Environment Mayor, Culture and Leisure Mayor, and representatives from UNESCO and the International Association of Architects for the opening event in January.
UNESCO chooses a city to be the World Capital of Architecture on the recommendations of the General Assembly of the International Union of Architects, which hosts a World Congress in each city.
The first World Capital of Architecture was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2021. The UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, said in a statement last summer that Copenhagen will build upon Rio’s achievements as host city, “by continuing to show the way in which architecture and culture can respond to the challenges of our time, especially in the environmental field.”
The Danish Architecture Centre will be a key part of this year’s activities, and on its official website, it reveals plans to open a permanent exhibit on Danish architecture to highlight “the history of Danish architecture from the Viking Age to present day and gives you the opportunity to travel into the architecture and understand how absolutely vital it is to our democratic society.”
The major architectural event will be the World Congress, held in Copenhagen from 2 to 6 July.
