A design technology spin-out from architecture practice Henning Larsen is seeking to shift the role of environmental analysis in the design process by moving simulation into the earliest stages of architectural work.
The spin-out, Nflection, operates as an independent company backed by Henning Larsen, the Environmental Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (MUDP) under the Danish Ministry of the Environment, the Ramboll Foundation, and Google for Startups. It has launched jifto, a real-time environmental analysis tool for design teams working from concept stage.
jifto combines site context, climate data, physics and simulation outputs within a single workflow that updates as design inputs change.
The platform runs real-time analyses as forms evolve, covering sunlight, shadow, wind, microclimate, stormwater, earthworks and daylight. Outputs update continuously with each iteration of the model.
It also enables testing against current climate conditions and projections extending to 2075.
The platform includes a biodiversity module in beta, extending analysis into ecological considerations at concept stage. It also models microclimate factors including wind, sun exposure and thermal comfort.
Nflection was founded by Mariusz Hermansdorfer, formerly Head of Computational Design at Henning Larsen, and has been developed as an independent company based on internal computational design work now packaged as a standalone product.
Its formation follows a wider pattern of design firms separating software development from project delivery.
The company is supported by the Ramboll Foundation and Google for Startups. It is also running a course called Designing with microclimate, focused on thermal comfort in early-stage design.
