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Keynote Speaker
Bjarke Ingels
Danish architect and founder of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
Popular talks
- Architecture as a Tool for Turning Fiction into Fact
- Hedonistic Sustainability: Making Cities Better and More Enjoyable
- Innovative Urban Design and Future Cities
- Sustainable Architecture and Climate Solutions
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Talks
Popular talks by Bjarke Ingels
- Architecture as a Tool for Turning Fiction into Fact
- Hedonistic Sustainability: Making Cities Better and More Enjoyable
- Innovative Urban Design and Future Cities
- Sustainable Architecture and Climate Solutions
- Creativity, Constraints, and Reimagining Built Environments
- Designing for People: Where Function Meets Experience
- Global Architecture: From Concept to Reality
Biography
About Bjarke Ingels
Bjarke Ingels is a Danish architect and the founder and creative partner of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), an internationally acclaimed architecture and design studio. He is widely recognised for a bold, playful and pragmatic approach that merges utopian ideas with practical, buildable solutions.
Since founding BIG in 2005, Bjarke Ingels has led a diverse portfolio of projects that redefine typologies and challenge conventional constraints. Signature works include the figure-eight loop of 8 House in Copenhagen, the hybrid pyramid-courtyard VIA 57 West in New York, and CopenHill, a waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen topped with a ski slope and public park. These projects embody his belief that sustainable architecture can be both environmentally responsible and deeply enjoyable for the people who use it.
Under Bjarke Ingels’ leadership, BIG has collaborated with major global brands and institutions, including Google, LEGO, and Toyota, as well as public and cultural clients such as the Smithsonian Institution, Zurich Airport and the Prague Philharmonic. Across scales – from furniture and small installations to master plans and future cities – his work advocates for “hedonistic sustainability,” where ecological performance and human pleasure are mutually reinforcing rather than in conflict.
Before establishing BIG, Bjarke Ingels co-founded PLOT Architects in 2001 and worked at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotterdam. Through a series of award-winning projects, he has built a reputation for designs that are technically and programmatically innovative while remaining cost-conscious and resource-efficient.
Bjarke Ingels has taught at leading universities including Harvard, Yale and Columbia, and he is the author of Yes Is More, a graphic monograph that presents BIG’s design philosophy in comic-book form. His honours include the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, and a place on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People.
As a sought-after speaker, Bjarke Ingels regularly shares his ideas on architecture, sustainability and the future of cities at global forums such as TED, WIRED and the World Economic Forum.
How to book Bjarke Ingels
Answers on fees, availability and booking process.
How do I book Bjarke Ingels for a keynote speech?
You can book Bjarke Ingels through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Bjarke's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
What are Bjarke Ingels's speaking fees?
Bjarke Ingels's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Bjarke tailored to your event.
What topics does Bjarke Ingels speak about?
Bjarke Ingels speaks on Cities, Future, Global Trends, Technology, Urban. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Bjarke to align the content with your delegates and goals.
Is Bjarke Ingels available for international events?
London Speaker Bureau can book Bjarke Ingels for events worldwide, subject to Bjarke's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Does Bjarke Ingels deliver virtual or online keynotes?
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Bjarke Ingels is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
How long is a typical keynote by Bjarke Ingels?
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Bjarke can accommodate.
Can Bjarke Ingels tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?
London Speaker Bureau will brief Bjarke Ingels on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Bjarke can offer.
What languages does Bjarke Ingels present in?
Bjarke Ingels delivers keynotes in Danish, English, Spanish. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
What makes Bjarke Ingels a strong fit as a keynote speaker?
Bjarke Ingels's areas of expertise include Cities, Future, Global Trends, Technology, Urban. To get a clear sense of Bjarke's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
What kind of events can Bjarke Ingels speak at?
Bjarke Ingels can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Cities, Future, Global Trends, Technology, Urban is relevant. Details of Bjarke's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Does Bjarke Ingels offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Bjarke Ingels is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
How far in advance should we book Bjarke Ingels?
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Bjarke Ingels, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Bjarke's current availability for your dates.