Bjarke Ingels Quotes

Powerful Bjarke Ingels for Daily Growth

About Bjarke Ingels

Bjarke Ingels, a visionary Danish architect born on May 31, 1974, in Copenhagen, Denmark, has left an indelible mark on the global architecture scene with his innovative designs that seamlessly blend art, science, and technology. Inspired by the iconic works of Le Corbusier, Frank Gehry, and Rem Koolhaas, Ingels founded BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) in 2005, a Copenhagen-based practice known for its high-profile sustainable architectural projects. The firm, which has studios in New York City, London, and Barcelona, has grown to become one of the world's leading architecture practices. Key life events shaping Ingels' philosophies include his studies at the Architecture School at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (1998-2004) and his experiences working in Pritzker Prize-winning firms such as OMA and Bolles+Wilson. His innovative approach to design has earned him numerous awards, including the Danish Architectural Award (2004), the World Architecture Award (2015), and thearcVision Award for Urban Visionary of the Year (2016). Ingels' major works encompass a diverse range of projects spanning residential, cultural, and commercial sectors. Notable projects include the VM Houses in Copenhagen (2004-2008), the Mountain Dwellings in Copenhagen (2013), the Mars Science City in Dubai (2017), and the Google Headquarters in New York City (2015). Ingels' quotes reflect his innovative spirit, sustainability focus, and holistic approach to architecture. "Architecture is not just about building walls and roofs; it should improve the lives of the people who live with it," he once said. Embracing the complexities of modern urban life, Ingels continues to challenge conventional architectural norms, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in design.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Architecture is not just about buildings, it's about making a statement, contributing to the global conversation about who we are and how we want to live."

This quote highlights that architecture extends beyond mere construction; it serves as a medium for self-expression and communicating societal values. Architecture is not merely about designing buildings but rather shaping our environment to reflect our identity, aspirations, and collective culture. It contributes to global discourse by encapsulating human experiences, beliefs, and desires within the built form. In essence, architecture is a powerful tool for articulating who we are as a society and imagining how we want to live together in harmony.


"The less obvious solution, is usually the better one."

This quote emphasizes the idea that unconventional or non-obvious solutions to problems are often superior to those that are immediately apparent or commonplace. It suggests that by challenging conventional thinking and approaching problems from a fresh perspective, we can arrive at more innovative, effective, and memorable solutions. The underlying message encourages us to think creatively, question assumptions, and not be deterred by the initial difficulty of unconventional ideas.


"We don't make architecture just for the few, we make it for everybody."

Bjarke Ingels' quote emphasizes the importance of inclusive design in architecture. Instead of creating structures solely for a privileged or elite group, he advocates for buildings that are accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of their social status, age, ability, or background. This approach fosters a sense of community, encourages interaction, and promotes the idea that every individual deserves quality architectural spaces in which to live, work, and play.


"I think the true task of an architect is to make buildings disappear, so that their presence becomes an integral part of the urban fabric and the landscape."

The quote suggests that a successful architectural design should aim for harmony rather than standout-ness. Bjarke Ingels envisions buildings that blend seamlessly with their surroundings, becoming an inherent element of both the cityscape and natural environment. This philosophy emphasizes the importance of architecture in enhancing the quality of life by creating spaces that are unobtrusive yet essential components of our urban and rural landscapes.


"There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?"

Bjarke Ingels' quote "There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?" emphasizes the importance of being open-minded and versatile in approaching problems or opportunities. He suggests that instead of limiting oneself to a single perspective or solution (represented by sticking to one degree), it is advantageous to consider all angles (all 360 degrees) to maximize potential outcomes and innovation. This quote encourages us to think outside the box, be adaptable, and embrace diversity in our thoughts and actions.


Design our world so that we have positive social and environmental side effects.

- Bjarke Ingels

World, Side, Effects, Our World

In the big picture, architecture is the art and science of making sure that our cities and buildings fit with the way we want to live our lives.

- Bjarke Ingels

Art, Big, Making, Cities

You can say, like, planet Earth has an existing geology, and what we do as human beings and as architects is that we try to sort of alter and modify and expand the geology.

- Bjarke Ingels

Say, Like, Planet, Architects

Architects have to become designers of eco-systems. Not just designers of beautiful facades or beautiful sculptures, but systems of economy and ecology, where we channel the flow not only of people, but also the flow of resources through our cities and buildings.

- Bjarke Ingels

Through, Cities, Sculptures, Architects

We can engineer a building and design a building with least reliance on active machinery to make it inhabitable.

- Bjarke Ingels

Design, Active, Least, Reliance

The fact that something is actually understandable and relatable doesn't mean that it's unsophisticated or banal. It just means that it's crystal-clear. And if you can't explain it, that doesn't necessarily mean it's so brilliant that ordinary mortals can't fathom it. It might just mean that it makes no sense.

- Bjarke Ingels

Fact, Explain, No Sense, Mortals

All evidence shows that we are actually getting smarter. Roughly we are getting 10 IQ points smarter every decade. The speed of innovation is also faster.

- Bjarke Ingels

Innovation, Decade, Evidence, Smarter

Silicon Valley has been this global engine of innovation and economic growth over the last few decades, but a tidal wave of innovation that has been focused very much in the digital realm.

- Bjarke Ingels

Innovation, Digital, Over, Engine

Architecture is restricted to such a limited vocabulary. A building is either a high-rise or a perimeter block or a town house.

- Bjarke Ingels

Town, Vocabulary, Either, Block

In Copenhagen, there's a long-term commitment to creating a well-functioning pedestrian city where all forms of movement - pedestrian, bicycles, cars, public transportation - are accommodated with equal priority.

- Bjarke Ingels

Commitment, City, Priority, Copenhagen

I think the avant-garde often hides itself in the highly incomprehensible because they are frustrated that the real world is so boring.

- Bjarke Ingels

Think, I Think, Frustrated, Avant-Garde

It's legendary how architectural lectures can be incredibly boring.

- Bjarke Ingels

Boring, How, Incredibly, Lectures

I love computer programmers. They have a very beautiful definition of complexity as 'the capacity to transmit the maximum information with the minimum data'.

- Bjarke Ingels

Love, Complexity, Very, Programmers

The 'International Style of Modernism' came with the advent of building services. In the end, the architecture became like a container space, essentially like a boring box with a basement full of machinery to make it inhabitable. As a result, buildings literally started to look identical all over the planet.

- Bjarke Ingels

Basement, Container, Became, Modernism

In the traditional modernist planning that created the suburbs, you put residential buildings in suburban neighborhoods, office spaces into brain parks and retail in shopping malls. But you fail to exploit the possibility of symbiosis or synthesis that way.

- Bjarke Ingels

Office, Suburbs, Modernist, Spaces

One of the dilemmas of architecture in general is that there is a Catch-22 - you can't actually get to be commissioned to do certain types of building until you've already built that type of building. So it seems to be incredibly hard to get going.

- Bjarke Ingels

Dilemmas, Types, Built, Catch-22

Sustainability can't be like some sort of a moral sacrifice or political dilemma or a philanthropical cause. It has to be a design challenge.

- Bjarke Ingels

Sacrifice, Some, Like, Dilemma

Today, we have sophisticated building technology: we can calculate and simulate the environments and performance of the building, the thermal exposure of envelop, or the air flow through an urban space or structure.

- Bjarke Ingels

Through, Sophisticated, Flow

When I started studying architecture, people would say, you know, 'Can you tell me why are all modern buildings so boring?' Because, like, people had this idea that in the good old days, architecture had, like, ornament and little towers and spires and gargoyles, and today, it just becomes very practical.

- Bjarke Ingels

Tell, Idea, Very, Towers

If I was misogynist, would I hire a woman as my CEO? Probably not. I grew up in Denmark, for crying out loud. Denmark is probably one of the places where equality is actually fully achieved. Our political system is practically a matriarchy.

- Bjarke Ingels

Woman, Hire, Practically, Fully

I think architecture is rarely the product of a single ideology. It's more like it can be shaped by a really big idea. It can accommodate a lot of life forms.

- Bjarke Ingels

Think, Product, Big, Forms

For me, architecture is the means, not the end. It's a means of making different life forms possible.

- Bjarke Ingels

Making, Means, Life Forms, Forms

I believe that architecture, as anything else in life, is evolutionary. Ideas evolve; they don't come from outer space and crash into the drawing board.

- Bjarke Ingels

Ideas, Outer, I Believe That, Board

A kid in Minecraft can build a world and inhabit it through play. We have the possibility to build the world that we want to inhabit.

- Bjarke Ingels

Play, World, Through, Possibility

The one thing all humans share is that we all inhabit the same limited amount of real estate, which is Planet Earth.

- Bjarke Ingels

Which, Amount, Inhabit, Planet Earth

People outside the profession of architecture perhaps often lack the understanding of how their physical environment comes into being. What are the processes, the concerns and considerations? What are the parameters that shape the world around them?

- Bjarke Ingels

Processes, Shape, Profession, Parameters

Instead of trying to change people, we could change the world.

- Bjarke Ingels

World, Trying, Could, Change The World

I think the biggest backhanded criticism-compliment I get is that I'm 'good at communicating.' Which implies that you're bad at doing.

- Bjarke Ingels

Doing, Think, Which, Implies

I really focus on the ball, I really focus on the work, and I really focus on creating all the growth opportunities for anyone in the organisation that's willing to do it.

- Bjarke Ingels

Work, Focus, Willing, Organisation

Maybe our work appeals to some people more than others. But the opportunities that I present to my colleagues are completely uninfluenced by gender, race, sexual orientation, or religion.

- Bjarke Ingels

Gender, Some, Orientation, Appeals

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.