Niels Bjørn (born 1969) is a Danish urbanist with a PhD in urban complexity from the University of Copenhagen. He advises municipalities, developers and housing organisations on how the built environment shapes human behaviour and wellbeing, and has worked on social sustainability in urban development projects across Denmark since 2008. In 2014 he co-founded BYLYD, Denmark's first architecture and city podcast, and in December 2024 published 'Det menneskelige habitat' (Dansk Byplanlaboratorium), a 378-page book drawing on ten years of research into how architecture affects the senses, the brain and behaviour. He has also directed documentary films and co-shaped Denmark and Greenland's contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012.
Niels Bjørn participated as a speaker at the OPEN festival on September 19, 2025 at the School of Architecture in Aarhus, where he examined how architecture can prevent loneliness and support health.
Niels Bjørn gave a lecture and city walk in Aarhus as part of Aarhus Architecture Week, based on his book 'Det menneskelige habitat'.
Berlingske's reviewer Holger Dahl reviewed 'Det menneskelige habitat' in January 2025 and described it as a useful compendium for those interested in architectural research.
The book 'Det menneskelige habitat' was published on December 9, 2024 by Dansk Byplanlaboratorium as a 378-page hardback.
The book 'Det menneskelige habitat' received support from, among others, the State Arts Foundation, Realdania and Dreyers Foundation and had a book reception at Dansk Byplanlaboratorium on November 29, 2024.
