From Monday May 12 to Friday May 16, the 2nd year students of the Degree in design of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra made an academic stay in the city of Copenhagen, where they visited several emblematic places of design and architecture. Marian Cots, delegate of the course, tells us about the experience:
"We had the opportunity to live a deeply transformative experience in the city of Copenhagen, guided by our teachers María Fernández, Diego Caro, Fernando Alonso and Raquel Cascales. Throughout the week, we toured a city that breathes design, architecture, history and sustainability in every corner.
We started the trip on Tuesday, walking through the King's Garden (Kongens Have), a garden that connected us with the history and the slow pace of the city. Then, we visited two pillars of Danish design : Royal Copenhagen, with its exquisite handcrafted porcelain, and the furniture store HAY, emblem of contemporary and functional design .
Next, we explore the textile world at Kvadratwhere we understood the value of material, texture and color in the experience of space. Later, at Vitrawe discovered how furniture can tell a story of innovation, ergonomics and aesthetics. We ended the day at the Danish Architecture Center, where we participated in a guided tour through the history of Danish architecture and its evolution towards sustainability. We saw material proposals for a more conscious future and learned how design can respond to the challenges of the present.
Wednesday was one of the most enriching days: we started at Fritz Hansenwhere we toured the timeline of Scandinavian functional design , understanding how a chair can be much more than an object-a philosophical, aesthetic and ethical statement. That same day we visited the Louisiana Museum of Modern Artwhere the exhibitions of Henry Moore, Yayoi Kusama and Robert Longo taught us new ways of seeing, thinking and feeling. It was an emotional and mental jolt that opened our minds as designers to previously unimaginable possibilities.
The workshop closed at the Ordrupgaard Museumwhere we were able to see Zaha Hadid' s architectural work up close and walk inside a surprising bamboo structure joined only by ropes. This ephemeral installation made us rethink the possible, the organic and the poetic in architecture.
On Thursday, we visited the Danish Resistance Museum, where everyday objects-such as a lamp or a vase-acquired enormous symbolic power. We understood that design can also be an act of resistance, a way to maintain beauty, dignity and hope in the midst of darkness.
In the afternoon, we went to the iconic Little Mermaid statue and ended the day with a recreational activity with the teachers. And to close the trip and say goodbye, we went to 'The Great Gatsby' Orchestra, a tribute to the 1920s that reminded us how the history of art and design is deeply linked to the cultural movements of each era.
This trip taught me that design is not just about creating "aesthetic" or functional things. I learned that good design is born from context, from a deep understanding of the world around us. Every chair, every building, every object we saw is steeped in history, culture, intention and critical thinking. I understood that materials matter, not only in their physical form, but in what they mean. That design can be a vehicle for report, for emotion, for resistance. I also learned that sustainability is not just a trend, but an urgency that redefines our processes, our decisions and our responsibilities as creators.
What marked me the most was the experience at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The works of Moore, Kusama and Longo pierced me completely. I felt that art can be an unanswered question, a provocation, a door to other possible worlds. I was also very impressed by the visit to the Danish Architecture Center, where I discovered that design has the power to imagine more sustainable, more ethical, more human futures. I realized that I want to be part of that conversation, and that as a designer, I have a responsibility. This journey not only broadened my vision, it also transformed the way I think about design. It reminded me why I chose this degree program: to create with meaning, with emotion, with purpose".
Text written by: Marian Cots, 2nd Degree in design delegate.
