Copenhageners and the Character of Their Greenspace

Based on your experiences, describe the different identities of Copenhagen’s public and private greenspaces.

To begin, I think it is important to note that each specific greenspace we have visited had its own identity, so it is difficult to generalize into simply public versus private. But here is my analysis:

Private greenspace in Copenhagen is something I haven't yet spoken about in this blog, as most of the spaces we have visited have been public-oriented. Yesterday we took a coach bus out to a series of private gardens around Copenhagen called kolonihave. These gardens are rented from an organization which upkeeps the grounds and runs a central clubhouse. The gardens generally have a small structure (sort of a tea house with no overnight-use allowed), a bit of lawn, and some productive gardening space. It would seem from a distance that the kolonihave would have a rather bland and structured character, as there are rules in place about hedge types and aesthetic of structures, and the sizes and shapes of the gardens are all very similar. However, the Danes working this land have taken advantage of constraints and made beautiful and interesting greenspaces for themselves. Each oval-shaped plot is like a little gem, some of which are completely closed to passersby while others you can peek into. The spaces are the perfect summer havens, away from city life and cultivated and manicured to fit a variety of personalities. The character of these spaces depends on the owners' individual desires.

sneaking a peek into someone's Kolonihave

DIS students getting the hang of Danish lifestyles

vegetables

Copenhagen's public greenspaces are, similarly, shaped by the users. While they are built by the city or some governing body with certain intentions, I think that people are what give them character. Today was a holiday, and at the King's garden in central Copenhagen people filled the lawn – picnics, sunbathers, groups sipping Carlsberg at 10:30 am and playing lawn games. A place that was once the formal grounds and gardens for a royal palace now has a whimsical air and a feeling of basking in the light and heat of summer.

I didn't take this photo, but it has a similar feel to today's experience

Superkilen Park is also an interesting phenomenon. It was meant as a recreational and social melting pot of a culturally diverse neighborhood. It feels divided, though, due to the bicycle and pedestrian lane running down its center that has become a sort of thoroughfare for through-traffic, as well as the city street that cuts between the red and black portions of the area. Perhaps this could be changed or controlled by modifying the park's design, but I'm sure people would adapt to the changes in whatever way they pleased. 

It's tough to predict the character of space through design. Though I think smart design decisions can contribute, it ends up being about the users.

Signing off,

Robin