Cobe founder Dan Stubbergaard on urban repair, people-centered design, and his Harvard teaching

Danish architect Dan Stubbergaard, founder of Cobe, discusses his career and philosophy in an interview with Abitare. Stubbergaard, 51, established Cobe in Copenhagen in 2006 with a small team; today it employs nearly 150 people at its headquarters in Nordhavn, a former industrial area. The studio features a café where models of future projects are displayed, including the expansion of the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen and buildings in Nordhavn, for which Cobe designed the regeneration masterplan in 2008. Stubbergaard emphasizes participatory design, citing Israels Plads, a public square attracting five million visitors annually, and Karen Blixen Plads, a garden with underground parking for over 2,000 bicycles. He advocates for adapting to climate change, preserving biodiversity, and transforming existing structures rather than rebuilding. Examples include The Silo, a former grain silo converted into 38 apartments, and Paper Island, an artificial island turned mixed-use destination. Stubbergaard teaches at Harvard University, the only Danish architect to hold that position, and credits urbanist Jan Gehl and activist Jane Jacobs as major influences. He admires Italian architect Carlo Scarpa for integrating landscape and architecture. Upcoming projects include Espoo House in Finland (due 2029) and Stadsljus, a 110-meter residential tower in Stockholm (due 2029). Cobe also publishes a platform called Cobe Notes.