OpenDetail, a New Platform Designed to Transform the Construction Industry

Henning Larsen, EK – Business Academy Copenhagen, and CHEVRANT have launched OpenDetail, an open-source platform for biogenic construction details.

The construction industry remains one of the largest sources of global carbon emissions, and the tools used to design and build have not kept pace with the urgent need for low-carbon alternatives. Biogenic materials such as timber, reed, hemp, clay, and mycelium provide a viable route to reduce embodied carbon, but the industry lacks accessible and practical guidance on how to build reliably with these materials at scale.

“The industry is at a turning point, and biogenic materials are changing the way we build for the better. We believe it is our responsibility as a global practice working at scale to support this transition. OpenDetail is our way of putting openness and generosity into action, sharing knowledge so the whole field can advance together,” says Jakob Strømann-Andersen, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Henning Larsen.

In collaboration with Ramboll, EK – Business Academy Copenhagen (formerly KEA), CHEVRANT and Speckle, Henning Larsen is building a global network for bio-based knowledge sharing. OpenDetail is a crowd-sourced, peer-reviewed platform that provides access to specialist insights and construction details, designed to make biogenic materials easier to specify and use in real projects. Developed within an educational context, the platform also connects new knowledge directly to the next generation of constructing architects, helping to shape the future workforce.

“We created this platform, because we need to share knowledge to change the way we build today. To speed up the use of low-emission solutions in the construction industry, knowledge must be available and accessible,” says Katrine Juul, Lead Sustainability Architect at Henning Larsen.

OpenDetail enables users to contribute and download material detail drawings in an open format, ensuring that low-carbon design solutions can be implemented efficiently. Designed for students, practitioners, architects, engineers, and construction professionals, the platform brings together a diverse community to share knowledge, collaborate, and scale biogenic design solutions.

“If we want the green transition in construction to happen at speed, we need more than ambition — we need practical competence across the value chain. OpenDetail makes biogenic detailing accessible and shareable, so more project teams can learn faster and deliver lower-carbon solutions — with confidence. At EK Construction & Energy, we support this by strengthening industry competencies through education, upskilling, and close collaboration with practice,” says Anke Pasold, associate professor and lab manager at Construction & Energy at EK – Business Academy Copenhagen.

The platform’s development included co-creation workshops to define design guidelines, the production of architectural detail drawings, and a peer-review process to ensure usability and buildability. Later in the process, community engagement by way of discussions, debates, and webinars will support active participation and growing global awareness.

As an open-source database OpenDetail grows in value as more practitioners contribute, ensuring the platform remains relevant, practical, and up to date.

More information: opendetail.org