The Royal Danish Academy and Danish foundations launch long-term partnership

Equal opportunities for all to participate in society

By combining their diverse expertise, networks, and voices in the public debate, the Bevica Foundation, Dreyers Foundation, Ramboll Foundation, and the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture, Design, and Conservation aim to significantly contribute to ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in society - whether in public spaces, cultural institutions, or housing.

From 2025 to 2030, the partnership will launch a series of educational and research initiatives under the title: “Diverse view of humanity and equality through architecture and universal design.”

“At the Royal Danish Academy, we focus on universal design and diverse perspectives in architecture and design because it’s essential that we, as a research and educational institution, contribute to a society that includes everyone. As architects and designers, we have a concrete opportunity to promote inclusion - especially for people with cognitive, temporary, or age-related disabilities. We believe that a strategic partnership with Dreyers Foundation, Bevica Foundation, and Ramboll can bridge research and practice, including through our professional networks and participation in public discourse,” say Mathilde Aggebo, Dean of Design, and Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen, Dean of Architecture, at the Royal Danish Academy.

Integrating universal design into the core of architecture and design

Universal Design is a holistic, rights-based approach to design, which Denmark has committed to through the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It’s based on the understanding that human bodies and abilities vary and change over time and that this should be the foundation for how we design and shape our living environments.

By increasing knowledge and practical implementation of universal design, the initiative will equip current and future architects and designers to better realise the vision of equality and inclusion in society.

Bridging academia, practice, and society

The initiatives will span across the Academy’s design and architecture institutes and involve collaboration with professional practices, civil society, and other stakeholders. This connection between academia and practice is essential to achieving meaningful change.

Sustainable design and architecture must consider both human equality and planetary boundaries. The initiative’s focus areas include research and dissemination of universal design in the transformation of historic buildings, housing, and public spaces; infrastructure; inclusive furniture and product design; inclusive design processes; artistic approaches; and continuing education for practicing architects and designers.

Over the five-year period, the partners will support various aspects of the initiative and work together to achieve their shared goals.