Henriette Steiner

Henriette Steiner serves as Professor and Head of Section in the Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning and Society within the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science. She previously held research positions at ETH Zurich and visiting professorships at MIT, BOKU Vienna, and the University of Geneva, establishing her as a leading international scholar in architectural history and spatial justice.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Architecture from the University of Cambridge (2008) following five years as a Research Associate at ETH Zurich. Key appointments demonstrate progressive leadership: co-founder of the Department's Diversity Committee, PhD Coordinator for Landscape Architecture, Head of Studies during the coronavirus pandemic, and current elected member of the Faculty of Science PhD Committee.

Steiner's research critically examines how historical structures—morals, ethics, politics, and cultural practices—shape built environments, with urgent focus on climate change, inequality, and pandemic recovery. Her work champions interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive methodologies, particularly through recovering women's contributions to Danish architecture 1925–1975. Recent trends reveal expanding scope from architectural philosophy (Tower to Tower, 2020) to pandemic-era spatial analysis (Touch in the Time of Corona, 2021) and equity-focused urban futures (Just Cities, 2025).

• Senior Scholar Fellowship, American Society for Architectural Historians
• Carlsberg Foundation Monograph Fellowship
• Faculty of Science Award for Research Communication (2024)
• Diversity Award nomination, Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship (2023)

As an academic leader, Steiner co-founded the Intersect community fostering arts-humanities-social sciences-design collaboration, and co-leads two major grants: Stories from Sofiegården (Augustinus Foundation) documenting alternative Copenhagen living arrangements as cultural heritage, and Learning from Collaboration (Realdania) building future design practices. Her current Women in Danish Architecture 1925–1975 project (2020–2025) has produced the award-winning Untold Stories monograph and digital exhibitions reclaiming women's architectural legacy.

Steiner directs the Section's research ecosystem through inclusive team structures like the Women in Danish Architecture collective—comprising architectural historians, communications specialists, and visual designers—who actively dismantle 'lone genius' narratives through collaborative knowledge production.