Research institutes

The partners in Centre for Strategic Urban Research include a large part of the leading research institutions in Denmark within urban development and planning. One representative from each institution oversees the management of the Centre. 

Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, IGN, University of Copenhagen 

The main research areas for the Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning are development, planning, design, and management of urban areas, green spaces and rural landscapes. The research is multi-disciplinary including landscape architecture, planning, engineering, biology, forestry, geography, GIS based spatial analysis, and urban governance. The research is both basic and applied. It is important that research results contribute to a sustainable practice for the development of cities and landscapes, environmentally as well as socially, economically, and culturally. Many of the research projects are undertaken in cooperation with partners from both the public and the private sector.

Section for Geography, IGN, University of Copenhagen

The Section for Geography conduct research within the field of geography which range from urban planning, labour market relations, poverty and migration in developing countries within the social scientific sphere of geography – to land system science, value chains, coastal protection, soil mapping and climate analyses within the natural geographical sphere. Furthermore the section has environmental geographers who are engaged in natural resource management and landscape analyses from both a natural and a social scientific perspective. The geoinformaticists use IT tools to process and analyse large volumes of spatial data and to find ways of using satellite images to predict, e.g. food shortages.

Research Lab 1: Territories, Architecture and Transformation, Aarhus School of Architecture

The research lab will include and integrate research that deals with the issue of transformation across scales, superimposed layers from different ages and practices within architecture. These transformationprocesses are also understood as value-based discussions as gentrification, shrinking, recycling, rewilding etc. The architectural heritage is understood as a culture that has developed continuously through history. The research seeks to create knowledge on and strategies for how a substantial understanding and use of this culture can be utilised in creating the architectural heritage of tomorrow. The concept of territories is used to describe a cross-scale and cross-matter focus, from macro to micro territories. The discourse about large scale developments like urbanisation processes will be linked with investigations for the transformation of the build cultural heritage and proposals for small scale interventions regarding the practice of humans in urban spaces.

Department of Architecture, Design & Media Technology, Aalborg University 

The Department of Architecture, Design & Media Technology is unique in the Danish context as it collects disciplines within architecture, design, media and technology under one roof providing the foundation for a powerful new field of knowledge and development of competence within the field of design with a human focus. The department vision is to utilize and investigate the interplay between creativity and technology for development of new growth areas in research and education directed towards the user or participants. The developed new architecture, urban design, products, and media solutions with the user or participants in focus addresses future societal challenges regarding development of sustainable and attractive ways of living. The impact on the physical environment and user interaction will be subjects for investigation, paving the way for new technologies and solutions that take the user experience fully into account. The ambition is to deliver excellent human centred technology research.

Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape, the Royal Danish Academy

In terms of scale, the Institute of Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape tackle the full spectrum. From the design of the district child care centre to the planning of university campuses in academic cities. From the layout of an exhibition venue or green area to the strategy for an entire region’s experience economy. From the individual old people’s home to the development of a town with an enormously diverse population. The challenges range from global urbanisation, climate change and scarcity of resources to the growing need for mobility and flexibility. The goal is a better quality of life and the enhancement of the town’s/society’s cohesion and cultural sense of self. Holistic solutions to major issues in society.

Mobility, Space, Place and Urban Studies (MOSPUS), Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University

MOSPUS develops theoretically informed and critical research on the themes of space, place, mobility and urban studies. The group brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines that include geography, sociology, anthropology, planning and architecture. The work is guided by a strong commitment to social justice and to making more sustainable and democratic futures. Part of the efforts to conduct research that reaches beyond the university is the development of creative methodologies and research communication. These approaches include visual and digital media, art practice, ethnography, participatory knowledge production, ‘future creating’ workshops, and advocacy- and policy-oriented outputs.

Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University

The research at Department of Social Sciences and Business focuses on societal changes, business economics and the impact of such developments on different societies around the world. We aim at generating novel scientific insights into the on-going societal changes, confrontations and conflicts. As our teaching is closely related to our research activities it attaches high importance to methodological skills and is characterised by its multidisciplinary nature.