Sustainability
Climate analysis in real time
Henning Larsen Architects has launched its first technology spin-off, Nflection, and introduced the jifto platform simultaneously. This digital tool is designed for architects, landscape architects and urban planners who wish to analyse environmental and climate factors in great detail at an early stage of the design process. It was developed by Mariusz Hermansdorfer, the former Head of Computational Design at Henning Larsen, who is also an Industrial PhD candidate specialising in climate-oriented landscape planning.
Through this spin-off, the Danish firm is broadening its innovation strategy beyond traditional design. Nflection is the first company to emerge from Henning Larsen’s internal research and development division. Support for the launch came from the Danish environmental programme MUDP, the Ramboll Foundation, and Google for Startups, among others.
At the heart of Nflection is the question of how the quality of urban spaces and their microclimate can be assessed earlier and more precisely. Studies of wind conditions, solar radiation or thermal comfort have often relied on external specialists and have frequently only delivered results after fundamental design decisions were already in place. The platform aims to significantly accelerate this process, enabling analyses to be carried out in minutes.
“The talent and the intent are never the problem. What I kept seeing was that the expertise to evaluate comfort couldn’t scale to match the volume of decisions being made across the industry. jifto is how we aim to change that.”,’ says Mariusz Hermansdorfer. To this end, jifto integrates location data, climate models and physical calculations directly into digital design environments. The system currently encompasses nine analysis areas, including tools for sun and shade studies, wind flows, microclimate, rainwater management, earthworks, and daylight simulations. All calculations run in real time alongside the design process. Projects can be analysed based not only on current climatic conditions, but also on projected scenarios up to the year 2075. The platform is complemented by a biodiversity module which is currently in beta.
According to Henning Larsen, jifto is based on over ten years of research and development work within the studio. Unlike conventional planning software, the system was developed directly from practical experience gained from real projects and has been continuously refined through day-to-day design work. The platform consolidates insights from research programmes, environmental analyses and ongoing planning processes into a central tool for everyday use. Eliana Nigro, Head of Digital Adoption at Henning Larsen, describes the significance of the microclimate in this context: “Good spaces are not accidental. They are the ones where people choose to stay, where a conversation happens because the wind let it, where sunlight arrives exactly when it is needed.” She adds: “Microclimate is what separates a space that works from one that is merely built. jifto puts that knowledge in your hands from the very first sketch, which is the only moment it can truly change anything.”
For Henning Larsen, the spin-off is also a strategic move to embed internal research knowledge more deeply across the entire industry. “For years, we have built research capabilities through our PhD programme — the knowledge exists, and it should not be limited by the size of one studio,” explains Jakob Strømann Andersen, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Henning Larsen. He adds: “With jifto, we can put proven methods in the hands of design teams everywhere and help raise the standard of how spaces are shaped.” Founded in 1959, Henning Larsen operates internationally in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and interior design. The company employs over 500 people in locations across Europe, Asia, Australia and the US.
