Historic vs. Contemporary

Prompt

Compare and contrast one of Copenhagen's contemporary public parks with one of its historic ones.

Copenhagen has a variety of different types of parks, from historic to contemporary. A great example of a historic public park is Frederiksberg Park, and a great example of a contemporary public park is Superkilen. Frederiksberg Park is different from Superkilen in that it has a lot more greenspace. There are large lawns for people to lay and play on, as well as preserved forest. It also provides ponds and lakes that people can enjoy. Being in this park is very much an escape from urban life. When you are within the park, it almost feels like you aren't in a city at all because of the great abundance of greenery and wildlife. 

Superkilen has more blacktop, and more room for different types of recreational activities such as biking, playing basketball, skateboarding, etc. It also seems to appeal to all demographics. Superkilen is multi-purpose in that there is something for all age groups there. For example, one woman today was working out, whereas a child was sliding down a slide that was part of a jungle gym. Also, a group of teenagers were playing basketball, while some older people were biking. There also seems to be a greater sense of community in contemporary urban parks, especially as seen between Frederiksberg Park and Superkilen. It seems that today, contemporary public parks are influenced by the surrounding area. Whereas, a historic park like Federiksberg influenced the area around it and what was built after its establishment.

While these parks are very different from one another, what they have in common are their overall functions. They provide people with a natural space, where they can come to relax and do recreational activities. Although they differ from one another, both serve as a spot to unwind and gather with one another.

Suburban Greenspace in Denmark

Prompt
Discuss the juxtaposition of the suburban garden as a space for personal individuality and the membership of a socio-cultural co-operative.

Suburban gardens in Denmark often provide personal space as well as space for community. For example, the suburban neighborhood in Fredensborg, designed by the architect, Jørn Utzon incorporates both aspects. The houses provide a private area for gardening, and are walled off from the rest of the houses and gardens. Although these personal spaces are a great expression of self, they are still regulated by the owners of the property. For example, if you have a house in the Fredensborg development, you can only plant ornamental plants, not edibles. The great thing about this complex is that you are able to be a part of a community greenspace as well. In Fredensborg, residents can leave their private spaces as they please, and enjoy the community space with others. For example, there is a large lawn in between the resident's homes where people can come together for activities. There is also a large patio space which incorporates the cooperative function as well.

Another great example of a suburban community which incorporates personal individuality and
cooperative function are the oval gardens in Nærum designed by landscape architect, C Th Sørensen. These oval gardens include a small house for day use, and lay near one another but are also quite spaced out.The oval design that incorporates the small house and garden follow the contour of the rolling hills that make up the landscape.On the contrary to the Fredensborg gardens, the oval gardens allow for the planting of vegetables and other edibles. But similar to Fredensborg, the ovals still have some regulation. But overall, the personal spaces allow for individual expression. The socio-cultural cooperative aspect includes the spaces in between each of the ovals. Each oval garden is contained and walled-off by hedges, but right outside the gates to these gardens are open spaces which provide paths for walking about the complex. There are also larger greenspaces within the community which bring people together.

Having a personal garden is beneficial because it allows for someone to have a sense of individuality and privacy. Having a cooperative is also beneficial because it brings people together. It's great to see two different communities incorporate these two really important aspects.

Public vs. Private

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

Both public and private greenspaces provide similar benefits, but differ in how they are managed. Ørstedsparken as seen yesterday is a great example of a public park. This park has no entrance fee, and anyone can come and spend time in this space. People of all different social statuses and demographics are welcome to access the park. It is an environmentally just establishment, because it does not discriminate against members of society. Everyone should be able to access nature when they please, no matter what their background is. Public parks allow people to do exactly that, which then creates a sense of community within a city. 


                                 
                                                          Ørstedsparken                        

In comparison, private parks may lack the same sense of community found in public parks. Owning or accessing a private park can be quite restrictive for people of lower income and social statues. Everyone should be able to access nature if they please, and if all greenspaces were private parks, many people would be left out.


However, a drawback of public parks is that they have the ability to become polluted, vandalized, and not taken care of well with lack of restriction and infrequent routine maintenance, for example, Østre Aniceg. Private parks on the other hand, such as the allotment gardens of Frederiksberg, are maintained and taken care of by the individual owner. 

Østre Aniceg

Frederiksberg Allotment Garden

But what both public and private parks have in common are their functions—health, recreation, and environmental stewardship. Urban greenspaces, whether public or private, sequester airborne pollutants and improve air quality, provide habitat for flora and fauna, and improve our overall well-being. 


  

Urban Greenspace in Copenhagen

Prompt
What functions does public urban greenspace perform in a city in general, and specifically in Copenhagen?

Public urban greenspace has been revitalizing cities since the 1830's, when the park movement was created. Some of the earliest greenspaces were designed by John Claudis Loudon, such as the Derby Arboretum. In addition, Sir Joseph Paxton facilitated the process of people being able to access the Chatsworth gardens and see its grounds. He was also a notable figure in designing the Great Stove greenhouse, and later another greenhouse called the Crystal Palace and Birkenhead Park. Many of the early parks were private or for those of a high social standing, but through time, parks expanded throughout the public sector. Many of these early greenspaces such as Derby influenced other designs such as Central Park, and even Botanisk Haven which the class visited today.

The idea of "greening" Copenhagen began in 1888, when there was a decommission of the existing medieval fortifications. Inspired by the early parks as well, Henrik August Flindt designed much of the early urban greenspace found today in Denmark. This idea of improving quality of life for city dwellers was on the rise, and public parks expanded throughout Denmark, and more specifically, Copenhagen.

The Fingers Plan of Copenhagen was established in 1947, and greenspace filled in the spaces between urban areas and transit routes, essentially "between the fingers." The main drive behind this design was the idea of people being able to be near greenspaces in close proximity. Now, people don't have to travel outside of Copenhagen to be within nature. Everyone should be able to access a park or other greenspace within 15 minutes.

As we see today in Copenhagen, the people are put first. Public urban greenspaces will provide urban dwellers will improved quality of life. These spaces also provide a sense of community, as people of different cultures, demographics, and backgrounds are brought together.

In addition to these social aspects, the environment is a driving force being greenspaces as well. Today, Copenhagen is often referred to as the "Greenest City in Europe." The city aims to be carbon neutral by 2025, and at this rate with the expansion of urban greenspaces in conjunction with energy innovations, I believe the city will reach its goal.



                                                                Ørstedsparken

Botanisk Have

                                                                   Østre Aniceg

                                                                    Kastellet

Lejre

Prompt
Based on your visit today to Lejre, summarize the impact that the Danish landscape has on the Danish as a people, and vice versa.

The Danish people have been shaped by the land around them, and have also increasingly shaped that land throughout time. The early settlers of Denmark lived directly within nature, and depended on it for their needs. Nature was also seen as providing religious amenities for the Danish, such as the trees that were perceived as reaching up into the heavens, which consisted of branches that held spirits. These early settlers of the Stone Age, for example, took from their land but it was a sustainable relationship. They were hunter-gatherers who obtained enough to satisfy their needs. They used every part of the animals they hunted, from the meat to the fur. The land remained intact, and they lived their lives within the forests that surrounded them.

During the Iron Age, agriculture was on the rise. The Danish people began to trade and domesticate animals, which grazed on the land. In order to provide land for grazing, the forest had to be cut down. Trees were also removed for the production of crops, which further impacted the environment. This relationship between humans and land is seen in the photos below. Land was dedicated to monoculture, which striped the land of the diverse flora and replaced it with single-use crops. This change in landscape continued through time, and still continues today. Although the landscape in the first photo below is aesthetically pleasing, it is a prime example of monoculture. This plot of land has been devoted to canola plants and nothing more.

Visting Lejre was a beautiful experience for its aesthetics, but also because of its important learning lesson. We must consider how the land has become this way from human interference. The environment plays a large role in our lives, but we must learn how to live in harmony rather than in imbalance.