Minister: Architects and Designers Can Make a Huge Contribution
Ulla Tørnæs, Danish Minister for Development, was impressed by this summer’s degree show, which focused on the United Nations’ Global Goals for sustainable development. “This is a contribution that Denmark can be proud of,” she says.
“The exhibition is a great testament to what architecture and design can make a huge contribution in terms of the global development we want to see.”
These were the words of the Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs (Venstre) following her visit to the KADK degree show. The exhibition is the first to highlight the United Nations’ 17 Global Goals for sustainable development, following KADK’s decision in 2016 to devote three academic years to coming up with solutions and approaches to the 17 Global Goals.
It is an ambition that really excites the Minister of Development:
“I think it’s great that KADK has taken up the gauntlet, and I think it has led to some really excellent projects: ranging from using waste fish skin as an upholstery fabric and a sustainable approach to fashion and design to ways of taking climate change and pollution into account when designing our building stock. I am truly impressed,” says Ulla Tørnæs.
Going for it!
“Walking around the exhibition only goes to confirm what I regard as the main thesis of the Global Goals: that each one of us can accomplish a huge amount, but that we can accomplish even more when we work together. “The exhibition is a great testament to what architecture and design can make a huge contribution in terms of the global development we want to see. There are so many little details, which both architecture and design can contribute when it comes to doing things in a new and better way and achieving what we have decided to work towards – the 2030 targets.”
So it makes perfect sense to the Minister that an educational institution such as KADK is really going for it in their attempt to contribute to sustainable development on a global scale.
“I am really proud of the fact that Danes can make a contribution such as the one I am witnessing in this exhibition.
Aha experiences
The Minister admits that he tour of the exhibition led to several “aha!” and “where on earth did that idea come from!” moments, so it was hard to rank one particular project above the others.
But one particular degree project made a special impression on her:
“As the daughter of a fisherman I was absolutely amazed to see how a waste product such as salmon skin could be transformed into furnishing fabric. On the basis of that, and using my imagination, I can see great prospects for that project in particular,” says the Minister.
