Greenland, “green land”, is the largest island on the planet and is anything but green. Its name was invented as a kind of “advertisement” to encourage colonization during the Viking era. In reality, it is almost entirely covered by ice, except for some portions of the southern coast, which are inhabited. It is also the least densely populated country in the world. Lately, it has been making headlines. United States President Donald Trump wants to acquire it, by his own account, by fair means or foul, for “national security reasons,” against the will of the Inuit (the indigenous people) and Denmark, of whose kingdom Greenland is part, even though it has been self-governing since 1979.
What’s in Greenland? Five standout buildings on the island Trump wants
The island that Donald Trump wants to become part of the United States is home to remarkable contemporary architecture, designed to adapt to a climate unlike any other in the world.
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Rasmus Hjortshoj
Photo Rasmus Hjortshoj
Photo Rasmus Hjortshoj
Photo Emil Stach
Photo Emil Stach
Photo Emil Stach
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Photo Adam Mørk
Courtesy BIG
Courtesy BIG
Courtesy BIG
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- Nicola Aprile
- 21 January 2026
Beyond the political tensions, the island is known for “postcard” landscapes, fjords, and the northern lights. Traditional buildings are recognizable by their sloped roofs and walls clad in brightly colored wooden panels, but in recent decades, building in Greenland has become a real architectural challenge.
A common thread can be identified, focused on the relationship with the natural environment, referring to its morphological, material, and atmospheric aspects.
The main challenge is, of course, the climate, the extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfall, as well as the lack of natural light in winter. Looking at modern and contemporary buildings, a common thread emerges: a focus on the relationship with the natural environment, in terms of morphology, materials, and atmospheric conditions. Attention to context, even before ethical concerns, appears as an inevitable response to the constraints it imposes.
Influenced by European architecture, particularly Scandinavian, today Greenland’s new architecture draws the attention of tourists, enthusiasts, and professionals alike. To introduce it, we have selected five buildings constructed between 1997 and today (plus one not yet realized).
Built according to the logic of environmental sustainability, the cultural center designed by Danish studio Dorte Mandrup A/S resembles the remains of a large animal, whose skeleton emerges from the rock as the snows melt during spring. The curvilinear structure designs a long promenade overlooking the Kangiae Fjord, punctuated by fifty steel frames and large glass surfaces that allow views of the surroundings. The open and accessible roof connects the large volume to the landscape. The building is powered by energy produced by the nearby hydroelectric power plant.
Following the shape of the rugged coastline on which it sits, this building was conceived as a set of distinct, staggered volumes. The goal is to reproduce an urban structure, distributing across the different blocks not only residences for inmates but also sports and reading rooms, a health center, and a chapel. Across its 8,000 square meters, the project rethinks prison architecture to redefine the approach to detention, aiming to reconstruct everyday life dynamics typical of an ordinary social context.
This institute is a research center for Arctic issues and human impact on ecosystems. It is conceived like a boat, oriented according to the wind: the building’s form is designed to reduce aerodynamic resistance and limit heat loss. The two large blocks are clad in untreated Canadian cedar wood; the dry climate of the region has acted as a natural finish, giving the building a grayish tone over the course of two decades. The vertical arrangement of the glazing recalls the natural crevasses of the surrounding mountainous landscape.
Biosis designed this condominium in a transforming district of Nuuk: from an industrial area to a new residential neighborhood. It consists of forty-five apartments of various sizes, designed to meet the needs of students, small or large families, and singles. Once again, the design responds spontaneously to climatic conditions: the horseshoe-shaped complex protects against wind and snow, while creating an open, sheltered area that serves as a communal space for residents.
The massive structure of this cultural center echoes the rocky landscape surrounding it. A wavy volume protects it and vibrates, functioning as a metaphor for the northern lights. The golden larch wood cladding gives the building a warm and inviting volume, shielding it from the outside while drawing natural light from skylights and vertical windows. The large atrium functions as a square: an open and fluid space connecting the center’s various areas, such as the café, TV studio, and 550-seat auditorium.
A building designed to house art, with three thousand square meters to trace Greenland’s history through its artistic production to the present day. The result of a competition won in 2011, the construction of the National Gallery has not yet begun. The building’s sinuous form develops around a central void: an accessible courtyard in the shape of a perfect circle, a metaphor for the generative cycle of water, which transforms the Greenlandic landscape each year as it shifts from solid to liquid.