Building for community

Whether a building turns its back on the city or opens up toward it determines who feels invited in, and who is left standing outside. This conversation at GRASP 2026 explores how to build a gathering place where communities can thrive and grow, and where creative ideas have room to unfold.

In Musicon, where GRASP takes place, the old factory hall Hal 9 is being transformed into a creative powerhouse and headquarters for Roskilde Festival Gruppen, while the neighboring Hal 12 has already been claimed and shaped by the skate community that uses it.

A June 2026 Realdania report on Danish cultural houses points out that the best houses grow out of what already exists. Drawing on the report's insights and concrete experience, we gather advice on what to prioritize in developing Hal 9 as a framework for the communities that will use it.

The conversation is moderated by Christian Pagh, author of several books on communities and urban development and responsible for developing Folkehaven, a community gathering place in Nørrebro, Copenhagen.

Participants

• Mette Margrethe Elf, Head of Programs at Realdania and co-author of the report

• Frederik Koefoed, architect and partner at Verna

• Olivia Orlandi Grant, development consultant for Hal 9

• Jakob Fälling from the Hal 12 skate community

• Tex Cederholm, Hal12

• Moderator: Christian Pagh, Senior Project Manager, Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke 

Language: Danish

The session is presented by Roskilde Festival Gruppen