Please turn your device to portrait.
Living Places study highlights housing innovation with low-carbon homes tested in real-world conditions.
An ambitious housing experiment in Copenhagen has revealed how sustainable homes can provide both environmental and benefits for its inhabitants. The Living Places prototypes, developed by the VELUX Group in collaboration with EFFEKT architects and Artelia engineers, were tested over the summer of 2023 by 98 live-in guests. The homes, built with widely available materials and technologies, achieved ultra-low carbon emissions while maintaining high standards of indoor comfort.
The trial forms part of VELUX’s Build for Life initiative, a broader effort to drive the building industry towards more sustainable practices. Data collected from the prototypes shows that sustainable housing can meet rigorous environmental targets while improving residents’ well-being.
Housing Designed for Sustainability and Comfort
The Living Places concept is based on five principles: homes should be healthy, affordable, simple, shared over time, and scalable. Constructed from cross-laminated timber (CLT) and timber frames, the Copenhagen prototypes were designed to minimise their carbon footprint, resulting in verified emissions of just 3.85 kg CO₂ per square metre per year—significantly lower than typical homes.
VELUX and its partners focused on using readily available materials to ensure the concept could be replicated at scale. To test its effectiveness, the homes were occupied for two months, with participants providing feedback on their experiences through detailed questionnaires. Environmental sensors tracked data on indoor conditions, including temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels, and natural light.
Watch Living Places’ story from an architect’s perspective.
Positive Findings on Comfort and Well-Being
The results indicate that the homes not only met sustainability goals but also provided a comfortable and healthy living environment. Over 70% of participants reported feeling more relaxed and connected to nature during their stay, while 85% agreed that the design met their functional needs.
One participant in the study described the experience as one where “the house is taking care of you,” referencing features like automated ventilation and shading systems that enhance the indoor climate.
Environmental sensors confirmed these subjective impressions. Data revealed that the homes maintained indoor temperatures within the comfort ranges outlined in European Standard EN 16798-1:2019. Nearly all participants (97%) said they were comfortable throughout the day and night.
Lessons for the Building Industry
The Living Places project highlights the potential for combining sustainability with liveability in housing. By focusing on low-carbon construction methods and thoughtful design, the initiative provides a roadmap for addressing environmental challenges without sacrificing quality of life.
The concept has implications for the broader building industry, where efforts to reduce carbon emissions often overlook the importance of indoor comfort. The findings suggest that sustainable building practices can be scaled up without compromising residents’ well-being.
Watch some Living Places residents talk about their experience.
A Model for the Future
With the Copenhagen prototypes now being disassembled and relocated, the project is preparing for its next phase. A similar prototype has already been launched in the Netherlands, and SOS Children’s Villages plans to develop Children’s Living Places in Ukraine.
The Living Places concept demonstrates how housing can evolve to meet the dual challenges of climate change and human health. As the project expands internationally, it raises critical questions about the future of construction: Can sustainable housing become the norm, and how can these practices be adopted on a larger scale?
See: Living Places
