Honoring the pedestrian is one of the principles for rebuilding neighborhood retailing. Window displays along with the ability to see inside a store are characteristics that attract buyers and make them feel safe. The low windows on central Copenhagen enable all kinds of people to easily see what each store is about – children, adults, elders. The light coming from the windows increases visibility on the street, particularly at night, translating transparency to a sense of comfort and security.
Engaging the pedestrian through window placement
Copenhagen,
The pavement around Stork Fountain, one of the most famous fountains in central Copenhagen, is reminiscent of a carpet pattern. Its inviting nature means that often, visitors can be seen seating on the actual pavement during events in the plaza.
Material and Finishes
Copenhagen,
On top of bicycles, Copenhagen relies on public transportation, such as the metro and buses. In fact, the city’s new metro is noted for its exceptional design features. In Norrebro, the main street is blocked off so that only buses and bicycles are allowed to drive through, ensuring that equity of access is achieved throughout the population.
Public Transportation
Copenhagen,
Every day, 300 trucks bring garbage to the city’s power plant, turning garbage into something useful: heat for the city’s long, cold winters. Copenhagen prides itself as being a model city for sustainable and healthy solutions. They have made the goal to become carbon neutral by 2025 and have reduced their emissions by 42% from 2005. Others are learning from Copenhagen’s initiatives as they hosted the 2019 C40 World Mayors Summit where city mayors, city delegates, climate experts, influencers, and business leaders met to discuss innovative, influential, and solution inspire solutions to combat climate change. There are over 90 cities in the C40 group, including 12 cities in the United States.
Turning garbage to fuel
Copenhagen,
As part of Copenhagen’s efforts to fight climate change are initiatives to put most residents less than half a mile from a station. While saving resources, such initiatives also provide equity of access to all city residents.
Providing access to public transportation
Copenhagen,
Night-time lighting is important for security and safety. Overdoing it however, can be as bad as not enough lighting. In the Norrebro neighborhood, one of the city’s most diverse and lower-income areas, a combination of over the street with entry lighting creates a sense of orientation for both pedestrians and drivers.
Street lighting
Copenhagen,
Places to sit and rest can be found throughout the city, which emphasizes the city’s attention to people’s needs. Whether for visitors or residents, seating along streets encourages people to be out and about while having a place to take a break, stop and people-watch, or socialize. Seating arrangements range from publicly-provided benches to store-provided seating.
Seating areas everywhere
Copenhagen,
Trust is one of the indicators measured by the World Happiness Report that ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. Trust is built through values such as the fact that citizens are encouraged to speak up when they witness something that is not okay. At the same time, the built environment also communicates trust. Take for example, the metro which trusts passengers for paying their fees and therefore, lacks the typical security measures such as the turnstile access control. If caught for not having purchased a ticket though, the fine is steep. Another indicator of the Danish etiquette for being respectful for others’ individual needs is that metro trains include a quiet section—similar to those in the libraries—where passengers need to be mindful of the noises they make. And, during major events sponsored in the city, the metro is free to increase accessibility.
Building Trust
Copenhagen,
Close to 62% of Copenhagen’s residents commute by bike and the city’s infrastructure, from streets with bike lanes and places to park bikes and shower after a bike ride (like at DIS) are supporting this lifestyle. Biking has many health advantages, has shown positive association with academic performance, as well as economic benefits from reduced healthcare costs. Children in Copenhagen learn to bike as toddlers and use parks to sharpen their skills.
Benefits of Biking
Copenhagen,
In one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, Norrebro, the streets transform into impromptu shops by residents who are trying to sell some of their belongings. Enabling people to claim space in such a way, instills in residents a sense of belonging in the city and safeguards economic opportunity.
Impromptu uses of public spaces
Copenhagen,
