14.01.2026

Odense: Between fairytale architecture and urban innovation

Building design

Panorama of a city photographed from a bridge, taken by Adrien Aletti in Odessa.

Fairytale past meets urban future – Odense, the Danish hometown of Hans Christian Andersen, presents itself as a field of experimentation between romantic old town and digital avant-garde. But how much innovation can the legacy of fairytale architecture really take? And what can planners from Germany, Austria and Switzerland learn from the transformation of this city?

Odense is a prime example of the combination of historical architecture and urban innovation strategy.
Digital tools, especially urban digital twins and AI, are shaping urban development and district planning.
The consistent focus on sustainability demands new technical skills from architects and urban planners.
Odense is struggling with the same conflicts as many cities in the DACH region: protecting the built heritage versus the pressure to innovate.
Debates about authenticity, citizen participation, data sovereignty and algorithmic decision-making are intensifying.
The city is part of a global discourse on the future of urban spaces and the role of digital transformation.
Odense’s development model is both an inspiration and a provocation – a lesson for the architecture profession in transition.

Odense between nostalgia and a new beginning – the starting point

Anyone strolling through Odense will feel the spirit of Danish fairy tales at every turn: half-timbered houses, crooked alleyways, small squares that smell of cinnamon and Copenhagen butter. It is a city that cherishes its historical heritage – and at the same time is not afraid to challenge it. This is precisely where the appeal lies: Odense does not present itself as a museum-like urban fetish, but as a living laboratory for urban renewal. The question of how much innovation an urban landscape can tolerate without losing its character is not an academic one in Odense: it is everyday life, it is controversy, it is experimentation.

Over the last ten years, the city has made a name for itself as a hotspot for urban innovation. Master plans that rely on participatory processes, digital tools that break up planning realities and an uncompromising attitude towards sustainable development characterize the image. The old town does not remain a protected area for urban conservationists, but instead becomes a testing ground for new forms of living and building together. But this balance is delicate: The balancing act between fairytale architecture and urban progress is rarely elegant, often uncomfortable and always a bargaining chip.

Odense is therefore a burning glass for challenges that also occupy German, Austrian and Swiss cities. How can cultural heritage be preserved while still meeting the demands of a digitalized, climate-conscious society? What role does technology play in mediating between tradition and innovation? And how much design sovereignty actually remains with the architects when algorithms and data platforms are increasingly setting the pace?

A look at Odense is not only inspiring for the DACH region, but also revealing. While in many places the discourse on monument protection and urban development follows ritualized paths, Odense shows how conflicts can be made productive – and how little fear the city has of making mistakes. This is uncomfortable, but instructive.

At the same time, it becomes clear that the fairy tale of the harmonious coexistence of old and new is just that – a fairy tale. In Odense, people argue, experiment and sometimes fail. But this is precisely the strength of the model: it is open, adaptable and – in the best sense – imperfect. This is precisely what makes Odense a touchstone for the future of urban living spaces.

Digital transformation in Danish: urban development in real time

The digital revolution in urban development is not a vision in Odense, but a reality. Urban digital twins, AI-supported planning processes, open data platforms – what is still considered an ambitious pilot project in many German and Austrian municipalities has long been part of day-to-day business here. But what does this look like in practice? The digital twin of Odense is a prime example: a dynamic, constantly updated image of the city, fed by sensors, traffic and climate data, coupled with geoinformation systems and open interfaces for third parties. Urban planning thus becomes a real-time process based not just on statistics, but on living data.

The benefit? Scenarios for new neighborhoods can be simulated at the touch of a button. The effects of mobility concepts – such as a car-free city center – can be tested in advance. Climate models help to identify heat islands and take targeted countermeasures. Even citizen participation is digitally orchestrated: Visualizations and simulations can be used to publicly discuss and evaluate planning variants. This is noticeably shifting the balance of power in urban development – from a monopoly of experts to a collaborative process. The architect is no longer the sole author, but the moderator of a data-driven dialog.

However, as always, there are two sides to the coin. The dependence on digital tools requires new skills: Data competence, modeling knowledge, understanding of algorithmic processes. Those who do not keep up with this will become onlookers in their own profession. At the same time, new risks arise: Who controls the data? Who programs the algorithms? And how transparent will decisions remain if they are based on complex models and simulations? Odense is wrestling with these questions – openly, controversially, but consistently.

In comparison, the DACH region often seems like a digital laggard. While the digital twin has long been part of everyday planning in Odense, the basics are often still being discussed in German, Austrian or Swiss cities: Data protection, standards, responsibilities. The courage to experiment – and to embrace a productive culture of error – is lacking in many places. The example of Odense shows that openness to mistakes and corrections is precisely what drives innovation.

The lesson: digitalization is not an end in itself and certainly not a panacea. It is a tool, catalyst and challenge at the same time. Those who do not actively shape it will be shaped by it. Odense shows how technology can become an urban narrative – and how the architecture profession can benefit from it.

Sustainability as a leitmotif – between aspiration and implementation

Odense likes to present itself as a pioneer of sustainable urban development. But how much substance is behind the image? The fact is: Sustainability is not a green fig leaf here, but a tangible design imperative. The city relies on a consistent mix of energy-efficient refurbishment of historic buildings, climate-friendly mobility, intelligent water management and active open space design. All of this is digitally supported, measured and evaluated. The results are visible: CO₂ emissions are falling, the proportion of cycling is increasing and new districts are being built to ambitious energy and environmental standards.

But the road to a sustainable city is a rocky one. The integration of modern technology into fairytale architecture is reaching its limits. Insulating listed facades? Photovoltaics on the red tiled roof? Smart sensors in the old town pavement? Every intervention is a compromise between preservation and renewal. The solution rarely lies in technologism, but in the intelligent mediation of old and new. This requires a high level of planning expertise, a sure instinct – and the courage to sometimes go against the grain.

What is exciting is that sustainability in Odense is not treated as a purely technical problem. It is about social resilience, about the question of how neighborhoods react to demographic changes, climate risks and changes in mobility. Digital tools provide the data basis, but the decisions remain politically and socially contested. Citizens are involved – often digitally, sometimes analog, always controversially. The city shows: Sustainability is not a state, but a process – and this requires continuous adaptation and a willingness to learn.

For planners in German-speaking countries, this is an uncomfortable realization: sustainability is not an add-on solution that can be implemented on the drawing board. It is an integral part of every design decision, every neighborhood development, every refurbishment. The technical requirements are increasing: Knowledge of energy standards, experience with life cycle analysis, understanding of digital monitoring systems – all of this is becoming a basic requirement. Anyone who doesn’t stay on the ball here will no longer play a role in the concert of the urban future.

Odense remains honest: not every innovation succeeds, not every pilot project becomes a role model. But the will to take sustainability seriously and combine it with digital transformation makes the city a reference case for the construction and planning industry. The message: sustainability is not a fairy tale, but hard work – and it starts with a clear attitude.

Discourse, debate and dissonance: What Odense means for the architecture profession

Odense is not a self-runner, but a space for debate. The conflicts between fairytale architecture and digital innovation are real, visible and often painful. The protection of historic buildings clashes with the demand for densification and energy optimization. The longing for authenticity collides with the pressure to make urban spaces more flexible, smarter and more resilient. The architecture profession is at the center of the debate: it has to mediate, moderate and sometimes even provoke.

One of the central debates revolves around the question of who actually owns the city. Digitalization is democratizing planning processes, making them more transparent, but also more complex. Citizen participation is becoming an expectation, not an exception. Algorithms influence decisions, but their logic is not always understandable. The demand for data sovereignty, open source solutions and comprehensible processes is correspondingly loud. Odense is tackling these issues head on – and making it clear that architecture can no longer operate in an ivory tower.

For architects and planners, this means that their role is shifting. It is no longer just about design, but also about process expertise, moderation and digital sovereignty. Technical knowledge is becoming a decisive factor: those who do not understand the digital twin will lose influence. At the same time, there is a risk of a technocratic bias: if decisions are too data-driven, social and cultural aspects will fall by the wayside. Odense is balancing on this fine line – and making mistakes that could serve as a warning elsewhere.

In the DACH region, the discussion is often characterized by fears: Is the architect losing his authority? Are processes becoming too opaque? What standards apply, what skills are required? Odense shows that there are no simple answers. The global discourse on the future of the city is a struggle for power, participation and responsibility. The architecture profession is on the front line – and must reinvent itself if it does not want to become an extra.

The conclusion: Odense is a warning, but also an invitation. The transformation of the city is uncomfortable, contradictory, but necessary. Those who engage in the debate will gain – in influence, in competence, in future viability. Those who refuse will remain stuck in the storybook of urbanism.

Global perspectives and lessons for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Odense is not an isolated case, but part of a global trend. Cities around the world are faced with the task of reconciling their architectural heritage with the demands of modernity. Digital transformation, climate change, social upheaval – the challenges are similar everywhere, the answers are different. Singapore, Helsinki, Vienna or Zurich – experiments with digital city models, participatory processes and sustainable concepts are taking place everywhere. Odense stands out because it exposes the myth of the harmonious coexistence of old and new for what it is: a beautiful myth. The reality is full of conflict, but productive.

This is a clear message for the DACH region: protecting old towns and monuments must not be a pretext for slowing down innovation. At the same time, digitalization cannot be used to legitimize the destruction of established cityscapes. The art lies in striking a balance, in productive debate, in constantly negotiating compromises. Odense provides the script – but each city must choose its own staging.

In technical terms, this means that planners need new skills. Data analysis, an understanding of digital twins, knowledge of sustainable neighborhood development – all of these have long been part of the toolkit. At the same time, debates about data sovereignty, transparency and algorithmic fairness need to be held. Those who back down here risk being overrun by their own profession.

The global discourse shows: The future of the city is hybrid. It is digital and analog, old and new, chaotic and regulated. Odense is an example of the struggle for this new urbanity. The city is not a model, but a laboratory – with open series of experiments, visible scars and surprising successes. It is uncomfortable, but honest.

In the end, the realization is that anyone who wants to shape the future of the city must endure conflicts, make compromises and be prepared to constantly learn. Odense is not a fairy tale, but a lesson – for planners, architects and all those who believe in the transformative power of the city.

Conclusion: Odense is not a fairy tale – but the hard school of urban innovation. The city shows how conflicts can be made productive, how technology can be used as a tool and not as an end in itself and how sustainability can become a real design task. For the architecture profession in German-speaking countries, this is an invitation: get out of your comfort zone and into experimentation. The future of the city begins where fairy tales end – and the battle for the best solution begins.

03.04.2025

Society

The electric car as a key technology for the mobility transition

Building design

Student house

The electric car plays a decisive role in the mobility transition. Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

The mobility transition is a central component of a sustainable future. The electric car plays a key role in this context. Not only does it offer the opportunity to reduce CO₂ emissions, it can also contribute to increasing efficiency and integrating renewable energies. However, in order to realize its full potential, technical challenges, the expansion of the charging infrastructure and political framework conditions must be further developed.

Electromobility is a decisive factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. According to the Federal Environment Agency, transportation is responsible for around 20 percent of total CO₂ emissions in Germany. The switch from conventional combustion engines to emission-free drives is therefore essential.

Electric cars do not emit any direct emissions during operation. If the charging current is generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar energy, the CO₂ balance is reduced even further. In addition, electric motors are more energy-efficient than combustion engines, which contributes to lower overall energy consumption.

Electric car technology has developed rapidly in recent years. Modern lithium-ion batteries offer a significantly higher energy density and enable ranges of up to 600 kilometers per charge. Charging performance has also improved: fast-charging systems make it possible to charge the battery to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes.

Further innovations such as solid-state batteries could ensure even shorter charging times and higher energy densities in the future. The efficiency of electric motors and recuperation systems, which convert braking energy into electricity, also increases the overall range and improves the energy balance of vehicles.

The market for electric cars is growing continuously. More than one million electric vehicles were already registered in Germany in 2023. The trend shows that small cars and SUVs with electric drives in particular are gaining in popularity. Manufacturers such as Volkswagen and BMW are increasingly focusing on electromobility and investing billions in the development of new models and battery technologies.

Another important market trend is the expansion of sharing concepts and car-sharing services, which are increasingly relying on electric cars. This development could relieve traffic congestion in cities and reduce individual traffic.

The German government is relying on extensive support measures to accelerate the switch to electromobility. The innovation bonus promotes the purchase of electric cars with grants of up to 6,000 euros. In addition, the expansion of the charging infrastructure and research projects are being intensively promoted.

Another key component of the political measures is the EU-wide CO₂ limit for new cars, which forces car manufacturers to drastically reduce emissions. This is driving innovation in the industry and ensuring a faster transition to emission-free drives.

Despite the positive developments, electric cars face a number of challenges. Battery production in particular is energy-intensive and requires raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, the mining of which is often environmentally harmful and socially problematic. Here, researchers are focusing on recycling technologies and the development of alternative battery concepts that require less critical raw materials.

In addition, the production of batteries is currently associated with high CO₂ emissions. Nevertheless, it has been shown that an electric car can compensate for this “CO₂ rucksack” over the course of its service life. If the vehicle is charged with electricity from renewable sources, the overall balance improves considerably. The ecological footprint of battery production can be further reduced with more efficient production methods and a more circular economy.

Another problem is the expansion of the charging infrastructure. Rural regions in particular often lack sufficient charging stations. Local authorities, energy suppliers and private investors need to work together to ensure a nationwide network.

Electric cars and CO₂ reduction: Electric cars do not produce any direct emissions during operation and, especially when powered by green electricity, make an important contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in the transport sector.
Technological advances: Modern lithium-ion batteries enable longer ranges and shorter charging times. Future innovations such as solid-state batteries promise even more efficient solutions.
Growing market and acceptance: The number of electric cars is rising continuously, supported by increased investment by the automotive industry and the trend towards sharing concepts.
Political support measures: Subsidies such as the innovation premium and stricter EU CO₂ limits are specifically promoting the switch to emission-free mobility.
Challenges and solutions: Energy-intensive battery production and the extraction of raw materials have a negative impact on the environment, but can be improved through recycling and alternative battery concepts. In addition, the expansion of the charging infrastructure requires increased efforts.

The electric car is a central component of the sustainable mobility transition. By using emission-free drives and expanding renewable energies, the transport sector can make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions. Technological advances, political subsidies and innovative mobility concepts are driving this change forward. Nevertheless, further efforts are needed to overcome challenges such as battery production and infrastructure expansion. Only then can the electric car fully develop its potential as a key technology and make a decisive contribution to a sustainable future.

More about the Move to Improve campaign here.

20.11.2025

Profession

Painting restoration: preserving works of art

Building design

Conservator carefully working on a historical painting. Photo: Paterm, CC BY-SA 3.0, via: Wikimedia Commons

Painting restoration is much more than just repairing cracks or discoloration. It is an exciting process in which art history becomes tangible and old masterpieces are brought back to life. Anyone interested in culture and history will discover not only technical skill in painting restoration, but also fascinating stories behind every brushstroke.

Works of art are witnesses to their era. But light, moisture, dust and improper handling can damage even the most valuable paintings. This is precisely where painting restoration comes in: It protects the work of art from decay and ensures that future generations can experience the beauty and expressiveness of historical paintings. Historically, the restoration of paintings has long been a purely manual process. In the past, paintings were often painted over or heavily altered without regard for the artist’s original intentions. Today, experts attach great importance to a gentle and reversible approach that preserves the original character of the work. Modern restorers therefore work according to scientifically sound methods, carefully document every step of the process and use materials that can be removed later.

A large part of painting restoration is based on chemical and physical know-how. Before the restorer even applies brushes and solvents, he analyzes the surface of the painting using state-of-the-art technology. Microscopic examinations, infrared reflectography or X-rays show which layers are original and which have been added later, and where the painting is damaged. A classic example is the famous work “The Birth of Venus”. During restoration, experts discovered older overpaintings that had been added in later centuries beneath the visible layers of paint. Through targeted measures, they were able to restore the original color palette without completely removing the traces of time. This shows that painting restoration requires not only technical precision, but also a detective’s instinct.

The challenges in painting restoration are manifold: cracks in the canvas, flaking layers of paint, discoloration caused by smoke or aged varnish and mould infestation. Each type of damage requires an individual strategy.

– Cracks and holes are often secured by inserting stabilizing materials from the back.

– Peeling paint is carefully consolidated and retouched, whereby the original color tones are precisely matched.

– Yellowed layers of varnish can be carefully removed and renewed to make the painting shine again.

It is interesting to note that restorers today also use digital technologies to create before-and-after simulations. This allows the client to see how the artwork will look after restoration even before the work begins.

Restoring paintings is a balancing act. On the one hand, the historical value of a painting must be preserved, while on the other, the work should be appealing to today’s viewers. This is why restorers often make decisions in consultation with art historians, natural scientists and curators. An example: when restoring a baroque portrait, experts deliberately decided to only retouch faded details without removing the natural signs of ageing. The result: the painting looks fresh, but remains authentic and preserves its history.

Some restorations have attracted international attention. The work on Leonardo da Vinci’s works or the restoration of the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel show how careful restoration of paintings can make entire epochs shine again. In many cases, the interventions were so precise that even experts can only recognize which areas were added in a modern way after a thorough examination. The restoration of paintings is therefore not only a technical discipline, but also a form of cultural mediation. Visitors to museums can experience art history more directly and discover details that would have been lost long ago without restoration.

If you have an interest in paintings yourself, you can learn to recognize the typical signs of professional painting restoration:

– Uniform color effect: Well-restored surfaces blend harmoniously with the original tones.

– Subtlety of retouching: Close up, the interventions are only minimally visible.

– Preservation of patina: Natural ageing is preserved, which guarantees authenticity.

– A visit to a restoration studio can also offer exciting insights: Many museums and art academies regularly open their workshops to interested parties.

The future of painting conservation is increasingly being shaped by sustainable materials and digital support. Environmentally friendly solvents, innovative consolidation agents and 3D scanning technologies are changing the practice. Conservators can document damage more precisely and make interventions completely reversible. Collaboration between international experts is also increasing. Major projects, such as the restoration of paintings in war zones or disaster areas, show how important interdisciplinary cooperation is. The goal always remains the same: to preserve works of art and make them accessible to future generations.

Painting restoration combines science, craftsmanship and an understanding of art in a unique way. It not only preserves paint and canvas, but also stories, emotions and cultural values. When you stand in front of a restored masterpiece, you see more than just a painting – you look into the past, experience art history and recognize the effort and expertise behind every brushstroke. Restorers are therefore not just craftsmen and women, but time travelers who bring past centuries into the present. With every saved painting, a piece of history remains alive and the fascination of art becomes tangible for future generations.