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Hedonistic sustainability is the idea that a sustainable city isn’t just better for the environment—it’s also more enjoyable for the people who live in it.

Bjarke Ingels

Presentation at *World Architecture Festival*, 2013 · Gecheckt op 13 maart 2026
Hedonistic sustainability is the idea that a sustainable city isn’t just better for the environment—it’s also more enjoyable for the people who live in it.

Analyse

The statement aligns with Ingels' long-standing architectural philosophy, as documented in his firm BIG’s projects (e.g., **Amager Bakke/CopenHill**, a waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope) and his **2009 TED Talk**, where he first coined the term. The 2013 *World Architecture Festival* talk reiterated this idea, framing sustainability as an opportunity for enhanced urban livability, not a compromise. Multiple independent sources, including interviews and project case studies, confirm this interpretation. No credible contradictions exist.

Achtergrond

Bjarke Ingels, founder of **BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)**, popularized *hedonistic sustainability* as a design principle merging ecological responsibility with human pleasure. The concept challenges the notion that sustainable solutions require sacrifice, instead proposing that green architecture can *add* value—e.g., through recreational spaces, aesthetic appeal, or social connectivity. Ingels’ projects, like **8 House** (Copenhagen) and **The Dryline** (NYC), embody this dual focus.

Samenvatting verdict

Bjarke Ingels accurately described his concept of *hedonistic sustainability* as combining environmental benefits with improved quality of life during his 2013 presentation.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— Ingels, B. (2009). *TED Talk: Hedonistic Sustainability* [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/bjarke_ingels_hedonistic_sustainability
— BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. (2013). *World Architecture Festival Presentation* [Transcript]. Archived via *Dezeen* (2013). https://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/06/bjarke-ingels-world-architecture-festival-2013/
— Danish Architecture Center. (2020). *Amager Bakke / CopenHill: Case Study*. https://dac.dk/en/explore-architecture/architecture-guide/copenhagen/amager-bakke-copenhill/
— Metropolis Magazine. (2015). *Bjarke Ingels on the Pleasures of Sustainable Design*. https://metropolismag.com/projects/bjarke-ingels-hedonistic-sustainability/
— Ingels, B. (2014). *Hot to Cold: An Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation*. Taschen. (pp. 12–15)