The history of design is full of fascinating contradictions. There lounge chair combines comfort and impracticality, designer lighting fixtures shine less, but display undeniable style, and now, thanks to Bjarke Ingels, sustainability can become hedonistic. This Danish architect has transformed oxymorons into creative language, bringing to life concepts such as “pragmatic utopia” and “hedonistic sustainability”. But what does this last term actually mean?
Capitaspring of BIG Bjarke Ingels Group and CRA Carlo Ratti Associati in Singapore
In a recent interview with our publication, Bjarke Ingels, the visionary architect at the head of BIG Architectssummed up its philosophy with these words: “We continue to expand the idea of hedonistic sustainability, the belief that a sustainable city is not only better for the environment, but also more pleasant for its inhabitants. This is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve. » A simple, but impactful statement.
It is important to say it: associating sustainability and hedonism may seem paradoxical. We tend to associate respect for the environment with obligations rather than pleasure. Recycling, reducing energy consumption or avoiding plastic do not generally spark joy. However, for Ingels, the main thing lies in reconsidering this approach. Why not design sustainable solutions in a way that makes them irresistible?
Between ski slopes and museum bridge
Bjarke Ingels does not speak in abstractions: he constructs tangible realities that illustrate how his ideas take shape. Take for example CopenHillan energy plant in Copenhagen that transforms waste into clean energy and whose roof houses a ski slope open all year round. This building not only meets an ecological requirement, but transforms an urban infrastructure into a leisure destination.
Another example: The Twista gallery bridge connecting two banks of a sculptural park in Norway. In this project, Ingels challenges traditional perceptions of a bridge and illustrates that architecture can be multifunctional: a space for passage, art and contemplation.
-Redefining sustainability (with a touch of fun)
The philosophy of hedonistic sustainability presents itself as an approach to life, a way of considering cities as ecosystems designed for the well-being of their inhabitants. According to Ingels, a truly sustainable city should not require constant sacrifice, but rather invite us to savor the benefits : more green spaces, connections, public places that encourage interaction, and buildings that, in addition to reducing emissions, surprise and move us.
This vision poses a key challenge: overcoming the “green is boring” mentality. Sustainability does not have to mean restrictions; it can evoke an expansion. More design, more innovation, more integration of nature and technology. Ingels sums it up perfectly: “A sustainable city is not only better for the environment, but also more pleasant for its inhabitants. » In other words, living well and taking care of the planet are not opposing goals; they appear within the same design.
Piscines de Bjarke Ingels in Aarhus
A future where everyone wins
Hedonistic sustainability encourages us to rethink our way of life and our interactions with our environment. By transforming our cities into more pleasant and livable spaces, while integrating ecological solutions benefiting both the planet and individuals, Bjarke Ingels’ vision demonstrates that design has the power to change the world. If, along the way, it offers us a ski slope or a museum bridge, so much the better. Saving the planet should be fun.
This development will invite urban planners and citizens to think about how the concepts of pleasure and sustainability can reinforce each other. How can we imagine environments that are not only functional, but also a source of pleasure and well-being for everyone?
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