René Sørensen Overby

With the right cooperation with the user, you do not just compensate people with special solutions, you create a higher level of well-being, participation and spatial quality for everyone.

Professionalism

René Sørensen Overby is a project manager in the Bevica Foundation's Universal Design Hub.

Graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture in 2002 with a master's degree in architecture.

After graduation, he was engaged for several years in the professional practice of architecture, where he dealt with urban development, housing and cultural and educational construction, with a social and user-oriented focus.

In 2014, he joined BUILD at Aalborg University where he worked in the research group for universal design and accessibility until his appointment as a PhD fellow in 2016.

Through his PhD and later work at Bevica Fondens Universal Design Hub, he specializes in universal design with a special focus on cooperation in construction processes and user understanding.

Experience and practice

René has extensive experience from both the architectural profession and the research world. He has been a part of several major urban development projects focusing on social sustainability and inclusion, particularly in areas marked by vulnerability. In his research work at Aalborg University, he specialises in universal design and accessibility, and his PhD project was based on concrete collaborations and user involvement in construction projects.

Knowledge in practice

René's approach is characterised by active knowledge sharing and practical application of research-based insights. He has given numerous presentations and facilitated workshops aimed at professionals in the field of architecture and planning. In addition, he participates in partnership projects under the Bevica Foundation, among others with the National Construction Fund and the City of Copenhagen, where his role is to translate knowledge about universal design into concrete strategies and solutions.

His research dissemination includes presentations at academic conferences such as ARCH, and he has contributed to publications — including a chapter in Emil Falster's book Ableism and several articles targeted both academic and professional audiences.

Contact René about

You are welcome to contact René if you work with — or are curious about — the following themes:

• The concept of universal design and its historical development
• Handicap understandings and user understanding in architectural contexts
• Inclusion and accessibility in urban development and architecture
• User-Involving Processes and Collaborations in Construction Projects
• Translation of experienced knowledge into physical spaces and design
• Accessibility in building regulations and legislation
• Interdisciplinary collaborations on socially sustainable construction

Universal Design — Perspective and Contribution

René's professionalism is deeply rooted in the work of universal design. He is the facilitator of the Bevica Foundation's Interdisciplinary Researcher Network, where over 40 researchers from different disciplines gather to develop new knowledge about universal design. This work is done through teaching, interdisciplinary collaborations, joint publications and participation in the social debate on rights, diversity and sustainable communities.

He also actively contributes to qualifying the field through both his own research and his role as a bridge builder between research environments and practice.

Role in Bevica Foundation's Universal Design Hub

René brings both his architectural practice experience and his research background into play in the Hub. In partnership projects, for example with the City of Copenhagen and the Landsbyggefonden, he uses his architecture education to link practice with research and strategy. His research experience and PhD background enable him to facilitate collaborations between academia and practice and strengthen his understanding of the logics of the research world in concrete development projects.

He supports the Bevica Foundation's mission to promote universal design in society and contributes daily to the Foundation's ambitions to foster greater understanding and concrete application of universal design in architecture and urban development.

Responsibilities in the Hub

René has overall responsibility for the development and coordination of the Bevica Foundation's core network:

• The Researcher Network
• The Partnership Network
• Scholarship Alumni Network
• Scholarship Ambassador Network

His work includes planning and facilitating networking activities, including networking meetings, VIP presentations, events and collaborative projects. He coordinates booking, communication and knowledge sharing, as well as contributing to editorial work — for example in connection with the publication of an anthology and the development of background notes and methodological tools. In all contexts, he works to support and further develop the Foundation's position and knowledge of universal design.

Releases

Overby Sørensen, R. (2022) UD knowledge creation. ARCH22 'Enabling health, care and well-being through design research' 5th Architecture Research Care and Health conference Delft/Rotterdam, August 2022.

Sørensen, R., & Ryhl, C. (2018). Responding to Diversity Including Disability. In C. Storni, K. Leahy, M. McMahon, P. Lloyd, & E. Bohemia (Eds.), Design Research Society 2018, Design as a catalyst for change: Proceedings of DRS 2018 International Conference: Catalyst (Vol. 5, pp. 1894-1908). [524] Loughborough University, London: Design Research Society. Proceedings of DRS https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2018.524

Sorensen, R. (2018). Spatial (E) quality from a User Perspective. In G. Craddock, C. Doran, L. McNutt, & D. Rice (Eds.), Transforming our World Through Design, Diversity, and Education: Proceedings of Universal Design and Higher Education in Transformation Congress 2018 (pp. 743-749). [115] Amsterdam: IOS Press. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Vol.. 256 https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-923-2-743

Sørensen, R., & Ryhl, C. (2017). Utilizador ou experto? In N. Mathiasen, & A. K. Frandsen (Eds.), ARCH17 Conference proceedings: 3rd international conference on architecture, research, care and health. (pp. 302—315). Copenhagen: Polytechnic Book Store and Publishing House.