By Andreas Grubbe Kirkelund

June 16, 2025

Through the lens of his camera, Nicolas Cosedis captures patterns we can’t see from street level. We spoke with the aerial photographer about old industrial harbors, new developments, and the secrets that architecture reveals when viewed from above.

What do you see from above that the rest of us might miss in our daily lives?

»From the air, the city makes more sense as a whole. Up there, I can see patterns in the street networks and old industrial structures that still shape new developments – and I can see how nature and city blend into one another. It’s clear how our infrastructure and buildings have marks of both historical choices and current priorities. I can see the signs of gentrification, detect shifts in urban planning, and sense how neighborhoods change character.«

»It’s a bit like looking at a living map – and that’s probably one of the greatest strengths of my work. By documenting the same places again and again – over years and across seasons – I witness the changes that occur. Densification, demolitions, new builds, landscape interventions. I can see the city’s socioeconomic evolution, its political priorities, and its ability to handle change while respecting what already exists.«

Do you think architecture has gained or lost something during that development?

»There’s clear progress when it comes to sustainability, mobility, and urban life. But in some places, we’ve lost a bit of the raw and the authentic. In some transformations, it feels like the city is becoming too polished – that the complex and contradictory are disappearing. Sometimes I wish for more courage in how we build upon what’s already there. Not everything has to be streamlined and efficient.«

Photo: Nicolas Cosedis

How does the expression of architecture change when you view it from above?

»From the air, architecture is reduced to form, surface, and relationship. Details and materials recede into the background, and what emerges is structure, organization, and context. You can read a building’s role within the city as a whole. It becomes clear whether a building or a public space harmonizes with or opposes its surroundings.«

Has it changed how you see the city when you’re back on the ground?

»Having that overview has completely changed how I experience the city. It’s almost like having double vision – one layer is visual and intuitive, and the other is more analytical and spatially oriented. I carry the city’s structural connections in my head – connections that aren’t visible from street level. Now when I walk through the city, I don’t just see a square or a facade – I see it as part of a larger rhythm, a sequence that stretches beyond what’s immediately visible.«

Are there particular places in Denmark you keep coming back to?

»Old harbors and industrial areas – like Østre Havn (Eastern Harbor) in Aalborg, the harbor in Aarhus, and the waterfront in Esbjerg – have a certain visual depth from the air. In Copenhagen, I often return to Nordhavn, which is practically a living case study in post-industrial transformation. There, you can see how docks, silos, and rail tracks have been woven into the new urban fabric. It makes the area fascinating to both document and explore.«

Photo: Nicolas Cosedis

Are there places you think deserve more attention – because they reveal something new from the air?

»Yes – especially technical infrastructure. Power plants, water towers, wastewater treatment facilities, and old silo structures are often architecturally strong and full of stories, but they’re overlooked in daily life. From above, they appear as monuments – not in the classical sense, but as clear markers of society’s functional needs. They deserve recognition as part of the city’s aesthetic and history.«

Astronauts often experience something called the ‘Overview Effect’ when they see Earth as a whole – a shift in perception where the planet is seen as a single entity. Do you experience something similar when you see things from above?

»I do, actually. When I fly over Denmark and see the landscapes, cities, and infrastructure from above, I get a sense of coherence and scale – both physically and socially. And yes, it’s a bit like the realization astronauts have, of how interconnected everything is. I see how buildings, urban planning, landscapes, and human movement all form patterns that would be impossible to perceive from the ground. It doesn’t just change how I view the city – it changes how I understand the way we shape and manage our surroundings.«

Photo: Nicolas Cosedis