Copenhagen is considered to be one of Europe's leading cities in regards to quality of life and sustainability. Over the past couple of years a range of public buildings and spaces, infrastructure and entire quarters have been developed whose architecture and urban planning are in many aspects inspirational and exemplary. A new book about these projects was recently published.
The capital of Denmark is maybe small in demographic terms (632.000 residents) and surface (86,4 square kilometres), but great in terms of urbanism. This is largely due to the focus on the human scale in every design. Long ago, the city made the switch from a modern planning ideology with individual buildings, formal and dull public spaces, and car-centric infrastructure to an urban planning based on a more human dimension. With a high priority on public space, slow traffic, mixed-use urban areas and interrelation between the different aspects of the built environment. Exactly according to the philosophy of Jan Gehl, the Danish architect, former director of Gehl Architects, and former professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts who wrote the must-read Cities for People (2010) and did a lot of projects and public life studies in Copenhagen. His plea focuses on reclaiming the city space as a meeting place and social forum. Inviting people to walk, cycle and stay and encouraging people to join in the common life of the city. And trying to develop a lively, safe, sustainable and healthy city. The Danish capital took over this philosophy by - for example - restructuring its street network, removing driving lanes and parking places to create better and safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists (see also the article Bicycle Urbanism). Together with creating people-friendly squares, parks and buildings the city life has increased enormously in Copenhagen.
The book København - Urban Architecture and Public Spaces, shows Copenhagen's quality of life by looking at the built environment. It presents a selection of more than 25 buildings and public places that have been created over the past ten years (this is probably the reason why for example Sønder Boulevard - finished in 2007 - wasn't included). The book is divided into four chapters: Public spaces, Sports and leisure, Culture and education, and Housing. Stories on larger developments such as the revitalisation of the harbour area or the cycling infrastructure complete the project overview and provide insight into the topics for which Copenhagen stands. In addition, three Copenhagen-based architects give their visions for the city in interviews.
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| Park 'n' Play (photo: Rasmus Hjortshoj) |
One of the interviews is with Dan Stubbergaard of the architectural firm Cobe. He speaks about the concept of an 'urban living room': "we are spending much more of our time in public spaces than in our private living rooms. All sorts of activities are being moved from the home out into the city, which offers a variety of settings in Copenhagen. [...] Private rooms in general, and living rooms in particular, are cosy places. They are the spaces in our home that we give a lot of love and attention to. We buy nice things to fill them and create nice corners where we can sit. Why can't we do the same for our city? To give it love and to care about the public spaces?" His company redesigned the square Israel Plads from an inner-city eyesore and parking lot into a vibrant public space with a sports field, skate bowl and sloping slides (and underground parking). It now offers different opportunities for fun, play, recreation, resting and meeting. Just like Skolen i Sydhavnen - a project from JJW Architects - the public space is multifunctional. It's not only a public gathering space for the community, but also used as a schoolyard. Through its design the school grounds and urban space flow into one another.
The book is full of these kinds of projects. A number of pages are devoted to each project in which you gain a good insight into the thinking behind these designs by means of big photos, clear plans and enlightening text. Other gems are for example Superkilen, a large square in the multinational Nørrebro district with its striking stripes, colours and objects: "Instead of searching for street furniture in catalogues, the planners asked area residents to suggest things that would remind them on their native countries. Objects from 57 countries can now be found in the urban space".
The Park 'n' Play project shows the applicability of roofs and the added value of playable elements in a city. On top of an eight-level car park JAJA Architects designed an attractive public space of 2,400-square-metre with areas for sports and play. The Islands Brygge Harbour Bath and Kalvebod Bølge in the harbour are another examples where public space is seen as a meeting place and place for recreation. The existing sources of water are used for recreation through a floating swimming facility and water basins. Benches, play areas, and lookout points invite visitors to linger.
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| Islands Brygge Harbour Bath (photo: Astrid Maria Rasmussen) |
In the 'Housing' part of the book, attention is mainly paid to residential complexes with an interesting balance between collective and individual. A good example of how architecture and community spirit can form a symbiotic unit is the communal living in the Lange Eng Cohousing and the student dormitory Tietgenkollegiet. The latter is a building with a circular floor plan and at the same time a cube-like facade. While individual rooms face the outside, the common areas, corridors, open spaces and terraces face the central inner court, which serves as a large communal space.
Also interesting to mention: to become the first-ever carbon neutral capital city in 2025, the city is expanding its metro network. Each new station follows the same principles: service-oriented elements (ticket machines, info desks, etc.) are located on an intermediate level. "Newsstands, shops and sanitary facilities are not included there, because the time spent underground should be as short as possible." After all, people prefer to walk outside in a clear and sun-drenched street.
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| Norreport metro station (photo: Rasmus Hjortshoj) |
The book shows that Copenhagen is still a pioneer in the field. It is a
overview book with a tribute to all the beauty Copenhagen has to offer
in terms of recent architecture and new public spaces. Buildings and
places that fit into the context and that are built for its users and
not for the designer's ego. It is - with other words - a wonderful
travel guide for urban planners, designers or other urban professionals
who want to visit the city.
The book actually looks and feels like an updated version of New City Life (2006) from Jan Gehl, Lars Gemzøe, Sia Kirknaes and Britt Søndergaard. That book also has Copenhagen and its built environment as a starting point. Although it focus more on public space and gives more insights into trends, challenges, research results and concrete solutions. København lacks that: it isn't a research report or a book with a solid analysis. Critical notes are missing. It is also unclear whether the users of all these designs are equally enthusiastic. I have no reasons to doubt the success of all the projects, but their opinion is not discussed. Nor does the book end with some reflections or recommendations. You have to come up with that yourself. What remains, however, is a beautiful book with surprising designs, wonderful photos and interesting projects.
First photo: Islands Brygge Harbour Bath (photo: Astrid Maria Rasmussen)
Jan Gehl (2010) Cities for People. Island Press.
Jan Gehl, Lars Gemzøe, Sia Kirknaes and Britt Søndergaard (2006) New City Life. The Danish Architectural Press.
Sandra Hofmeister (Ed.) (2021) København: Urban Architecture and Public Spaces. Munich: Detail Business.
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