Thoravej 29 Website

A carbon-conscious approach to web design

Thoravej 29 is a community and professional network focused on fostering radical change for people and society. While the eponymous address in Copenhagen’s Nordvest neighbourhood will open in 2025, Studio C are supporting the project’s development through strategy, design and implementation.

As the first element to be launched, the project’s simple but impactful website is a key touchpoint. It acts as an information platform introducing the public, stakeholders and possible collaborators to the project before the house is fully open. Here we have implemented Thoravej 29’s transformative identity.

Whilst the building is reconstructed, through an ambitious scheme by Pihlmann Architects that repurposes every possible element of the old build into the new, Thoravej 29’s identity also had to create as minimal carbon impact as possible. After spending time researching and trialing different elements of low-carbon web design we established a site that offers users an interactive experience without the bloated, resource heavy features that we have come to expect.

Considerations made include: a simplified user journey, reduced use of javascript, coded animations instead of video, remaining videos do not autoplay, the removal of cookies and the creation of a low-impact version of the site.

On a user’s second visit to the site they are prompted to choose between ‘eco mode’ and the full website accompanied by data comparing the carbon impact of both options. In this mode, images are only loaded on request allowing key information to be accessed without the transfer of large amounts of data. This feature introduces visitors to Thoravej 29’s sustainable mission, making it an inescapable part of their work as a community.

Our work on Thoravej 29’s website and identity offered the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what we can do to consider the environmental impact of every area of our practice. In the inevitable push towards a carbon responsible society we must embrace a new future for our industry and accept that things there will look and behave a little differently.

Full project case coming in 2025.
Development: Jacob Frederiksen