3XN’s immersive exhibition in copenhagen explores architecture and senses

AWARE: Architecture and Senses by 3XN GXN

From March 22nd to September 15th, the Danish Architecture Center is hosting AWARE: Architecture and Senses, an exhibition by the Danish architecture and research studio 3XN GXN. This showcase urges visitors to engage, comprehend, and contemplate their connection with architecture. Rather than displaying the studio’s portfolio, the exhibition invites guests to explore six immersive, life-sized installations. Here, the focus shifts away from mere form or function, prioritizing instead the visitors’ spatial experiences. These encounters epitomize the essence of architecture: not just materials like brick, concrete, or steel, but the interplay between human bodies and spaces, and the nuanced relationship between spatial atmospheres and human emotions.

‘Design choices are never merely aesthetic – they fundamentally influence our lives and affect our experiences,’ says Kim Herforth Nielsen, 3XN Founder and Creative Director. ‘Architecture shapes our behaviour. Are you – are we – aware of how?’

all images by Rasmus Hjortshoj

Architecture and Senses at the Danish Architecture Center

The installations within AWARE: Architecture and Senses at the Danish Architecture Center (find more here) delve into concepts and structures familiar to 3XN GXN’s work (find more here), prompting visitors to contemplate how space can influence atmospheres and shape emotions. For example, while a staircase typically connects different levels, its transitional atmosphere fosters spontaneous connections. Timber and organic shapes evoke our connection to nature, even in indoor settings. Through altering traditional architectural elements, the exhibition turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, inviting exploration at every turn.

‘These intangible, fleeting qualities have long been a driving force of 3XN GXN’s work,’ explains Nielsen. ‘We are fascinated by how people and space interact and have a hunger to understand and work with the innate, universal dimensions that make up experience. Why? Because experience is how we all understand architecture.’

the exhibition invites guests to explore six immersive, life-sized installations

A Holistic Understanding of Architecture

As visitors complete their tour of the installations, they’re treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse into the research, projects, and ongoing developments that influenced the spaces they’ve just encountered. Supported by Arup (find more here), this insight into the collaborative efforts of 3XN GXN and Arup sheds light on how architects and allied professionals work together to create lasting environments that prioritize both human well-being and the health of our planet. This exploration gains added significance given projections of a global population increase to ten billion by 2050, with 70% residing in cities. Notably, construction and our built environment contribute nearly 40% of annual CO2 emissions worldwide. This presents a pressing challenge: how do we accommodate this growing population responsibly while addressing the urgent need to reduce our environmental impact? ‘For spaces to last and be loved, we need to understand how we are connected to them, how they affect us and make us feel,’ says Nielsen.

‘In Denmark and throughout Scandinavia, there is a very strong sense of responsibility for the collective,’ says Kasper Riisholt, program manager for culture at the Danish Architecture Center. ‘This responsibility is also about our wellbeing – that our society and space must nurture, support, and facilitate a good quality of life for everyone. For architecture to contribute positively to our wellbeing, we must understand its core: What is our relationship with architecture, what does it do to us?’

the focus shifts away from mere form or function, prioritizing instead the visitors’ spatial experiences