There was a time when about 1 percent of the entire population of Greenland lived in a single building, before it was gradually evacuated in the early 2010s.

Built in the 1960s, Blok P in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, was a symbol of Danish colonial ignorance. Its narrow doorways and small rooms were incompatible with the bulky clothing and outdoor livelihoods of residents. The absence of any specialized facilities for fishermen meant they had to fillet their catches in bathtubs.

Greenland has long been ignored or caricatured. It seems to have taken a deliberate misunderstanding by a US president for Denmark to engage with the territory on something approaching equal terms. In recent months, the Danish king and prime minister have both visited, Denmark has announced a large increase in military investment for Greenland, and Greenland has assumed the role of chair of the Arctic Council on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark.