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| Copenhagen Map 1850 |
The urban greenspaces created in the
19th century in Copenhagen are wonderful because they really meld
with the city scape itself. They are not completely removed or something that
you have to go out of your way to enjoy. You almost stumble into them as you
walk around the city; they are unavoidable. These greenspaces, or parks, used to be part
of a massive defensive fortification that surrounded the city of Copenhagen
starting in the 17th, 18th, and first half of the 19th
century. However as the city’s
population grew and times became more peaceful there was less need for such
protection and a greater need for expansion. So in 1868 the fortification ring
was decommissioned and the land was given to the City. Some of the space was
used for the expansion of the city, but some of it was set aside to be used for
parkland. This was a great decision but there was no action until 1872 when the
City Council approved a plan to redevelop some of the area into 3 parks. The
two that remain today are used by all. Every day you can see children playing on
the play grounds, people running through and around them; others are just
talking a lunch break stroll, or simply sitting down and enjoying the view. The
greenspaces of Copenhagen have expanded and each space has its own character.
Each is a little escape from the rush and noise of the city and each in their
own way. Some, like Orsetdsparken, are small, intimate enclosures that center the
paths, trees, and plants on the water and have a recreational purpose. Others
are much more expansive and have a greater spread of botanic variety used for
educational purposes such as the Botanical Gardens. The Botanical gardens also
house an impressive green house in which plants from around the world can
flourish. Some parks like Ostre Anlaeg are meant to be walked through and experienced, not just seen. The people are supposed to walked along its sinuous curves and see the water flow, the playground, the park benches, the BBQs, and the small side rose garden. One thing that all of the
parks have in common is their ability to provide exposure to nature in the
middle of the city, a way for people to “fill up” on their need for green leaves
and blue water in the middle of a lot of gray stone and red brick; fresh air in
the middle of cigarette smoke and car exhaust.
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| Orstedsparken |
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| Botanical Gardens of Copenhagen |
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| Ostre Anlaeg |
An interesting site to explore if you are interested in these greenspaces:
http://biophiliccities.org/pocket-parks-research-small-public-urban-green-spaces-spugs-in-copenhagen-denmark/
Sources:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Koebenhavn_Oerstedsparken_2009_ubt.JPG
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/48/58/1e/48581e35a43e5ddf49788d9549a3a149.jpg
http://www.mappery.com/maps/Copenhagen-1850-Map.mediumthumb.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/33/90/0b/ostre-anlaeg.jpg
http://biophiliccities.org/pocket-parks-research-small-public-urban-green-spaces-spugs-in-copenhagen-denmark/
Sources:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Koebenhavn_Oerstedsparken_2009_ubt.JPG
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/48/58/1e/48581e35a43e5ddf49788d9549a3a149.jpg
http://www.mappery.com/maps/Copenhagen-1850-Map.mediumthumb.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/33/90/0b/ostre-anlaeg.jpg
How do you think the climate in Copenhagen affects Copenhageners use of the parks and urban greenspaces? Do you think the climate propels Danes to use the parks more in the summer months compares to a city with a more mild climate?
ReplyDeleteI would say the climate and day light hours have a large effect on the usage of the parks. When there are less daylight hours and the temperature is freezing or bellow, people have less of a desire to be outside, much less was to sit inthe park and enjoy an ice cold sandwich. I do believe that the Danes in the summer time are more likely to use the parks, not only because they wish to be outside, but since they have been trapped inside for the many cold winter, and rainy spring months, the population is going to flock outside at any chance they get. I know I have certainly noticed a massive amount of people who flock to the parks, and water, whenever the weather is even only somewhat descent.
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