How do we plan the cities of our future? How do we balance the needs of people with those of investors? How do we secure our built heritage when urban areas become more expensive and more cramped? And how can a city you’ve never heard of shed light on these questions?

Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark and this year’s European Capital of Culture. It is one of the oldest cities in Denmark, established by Vikings 1,300 years ago. Since then, it has grown in importance and influence, with one of Northern Europe’s largest harbors and as many as nine institutions for higher education, including Aarhus University. With its increasing popularity and growing international attention, the city is struggling to balance population growth, business interests, and the preservation of its urban heritage while also making space for social and cultural life to flourish. In recent years, the city has been investing in countless urban development projects that, in one way or another, attempt to balance preservation and development.