Main Architecture and Design Eight-Pointed Star of the UN City

Eight-Pointed Star of the UN City

The new regional head office of the United Nations is designed with clear references to the UN ’s identity and values: It is a building that physically reaches out to all parts the world, while the sculptural staircase in its core reflects the UN ’s work to create global dialogue. On 4 July, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II together with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Villy Søvndal and the Minister for Development Cooperation, Christian Friis Bach will officially open the UN City in Copenhagen.

It is more than 50 years ago that WHO moved its regional office for Europe to Copenhagen. Since then, several other organizations have followed suit. Today, Copenhagen is the world’s 6th largest UN City in the Western world (measured in terms of UN staff). There are about 1,250 UN staff employed in the 8 UN organizations, affiliated agencies and international organizations in Denmark. Earlier, the UN organizations were spread between three different addresses in Copenhagen (around the harbours at Frihavnen and Svanemøllen). With the UN City, these organizations have now been gathered under one roof, generating economic and operational benefits.

Through hosting the UN organizations in Copenhagen, the Danish Government contributes to strengthening the UN and the UN’s achievements. By having access to rent-free premises, the organizations can free up funds for their development work at country level. This “in kind” contribution thus serves as an extremely flexible instrument for the organizations, as the freed funds can be used in areas where the need is greatest. Offering office space in Copenhagen to the organizations also ensures that the core functions that are performed in Copenhagen and which support the country programmes are afforded the best possible framework conditions.

IN SUPPORT OF ONE UN
The UN building supports the reform efforts in the UN system, including the One UN approach, which entails a more coordinated, efficient and collaborative UN system. Gathering the organizations in the same building saves the organizations not only money for administration and running costs, but also facilitates and enhances cross-organizational learning and cooperation. 3XN’s star-shaped design reflects the nature of each UN unit working independently, efficiently and professionally with clear roots in a mutual set of values – Delivering as One.

WHY COPENHA GEN?
The UN organizations themselves highlight many advantages of a location in Copenhagen: the highly educated workforce, the infrastructure, the well-functioning society, the high level of security, as well as the location in a “central” time zone, enabling the organizations not only to work in parallel with the UN’s activities in Africa and the Middle East, but also to reach colleagues in Asia and America within the same working day. At the same time, the location in Copenhagen is a natural choice in relation to the Nordic countries, which are important and constructive partners as well as major donors.

There are also many other positive aspects of the UN’s presence in Copenhagen: It creates jobs, it promotes Copenhagen’s image as an international city, and it benefits not only companies that sell goods and services to the UN but also Denmark’s international business environment, tourism, culture, etc.

Full content of this issue you can read here

The full version of the article can be read in our printed issue, also you can subscribe to the web-version of the magazine