In an outing with a local guy (my Danish host dad!) I hit a couple pockets of Copenhagen that are the focus of the most recent developments to the city. Nothing beats local knowledge!
In most cases a photograph cannot capture what we are able to take in and observe with our eyes and other senses. But pictures are better than nothing, and will help do a lot of the talking. Before bringing you on an adventure with my own photos, take a look at the following slides that give a general overview of way the City of Copenhagen is managing its growth and development. The two areas of development I explored are identified on the second slide - Ørestad and Eastern Amager.
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Click on image to enlarge
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| The Metro - serves as the subway system as you get closer to the downtown area. |
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| High density along a transit line |
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| A place to hang out by the water |
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| More green than gravel |
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| Elevated Metro, street for cars, walkway for peds, and water flow seamlessly together |
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| The thick line of trees through the middle of the picture depicts the junction of old and new. |
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| The older mostly single-family housing is separated by the newer, high density and diverse housing, by a bike and pedestrian-only pathway along a small stream. |
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| Another view of the water-ped-bike-way. |
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| Who needs a car garage when you have a bike garage? |
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| The apartment building to the left was designed by Danish architecture group BIG - see Nov. 3 post. |
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| The building even has a name - "Mountain Dwellings" |
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| No mountains in flat Copenhagen? Okay, we'll build one. |
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| "Nothing is not a process" -Shannon Judd |
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| The next series of pictures features "8 House" - a mixed use building shaped like an eight. |
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| Similar to the "Mountain Dwelling" building, the figure building also starts from high points at the "top" and "middle" of the large 8, and then angles downward from there. The 8 is positioned for views, sunlight and fresh air. |
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| Green roof on one of the sides coming down. In this picture I'm standing at the "bottom" of the 8. |
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| Layers of grass in one of the 2 courtyards. |
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| I notice details like this: a convex line of bricks leading to a drain. Since the walkway here is uneven, I imagine it may get slippery when wet; a drainage path moves water more efficiently. Smart. |
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| No need to drive your kids to kindergarten when you can drop them off at the one downstairs! |
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| The full courtyard near the ground level |
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| From above |
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| The second courtyard gives a different experience |
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| Each unit has an outdoor area |
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| View from the top looking south to the parkland |
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| The preferred mode of transportation for many Copenhageners |
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| More living spaces to the west |
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| And east |
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| Eastern Amager - New apartment building |
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| 360 degree wrap-around porch (each floor is split into 2 residences) |
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| Bike park - believe the bikes will come with the residents |
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| View from the top |
There are 2 additional things to point out about the "Mountain Dwelling" apartment building that I did not capture great photos of: 2 of the 4 facades of the building actually resemble a mountain - a giant mural of the Himalayan peaks, Mount Everest among them. And second, underneath the 80 penthouses (yes, each residence is technically a penthouse), there is room for 480 cars. But one would never suspect that the building was also designed as a car park - space-saving shelter for cars without the eye-sore! More photos and info here.
More about 8 House
Ørestad Website - "Invest in Copenhagen's New Neighborhood"
Source:
City of Copenhagen, World Bank
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