cultural planning
French projects, which I mean can develop and expand our understanding of how cultural planning has developed, what cultural planning can be, and what the term in fact covers. In 1984, Copenhagen launched an architectural competition on ideas for the future use of the harbour. The competition programme was extremely open and there were no requirements as to specific functions or specific density conditions, and the competition could be answered both by details of sub areas or by an integrated plan for the harbour area. The competition was launched at a time when postmodernism and the interest in reconstruction of the European city were high on the architectural agenda and discourse. Many of the entries were in line with these ideals, and solutions were linked to the use of heavy classical architecture, which framed the harbour and linked it to equally monumental urban public spaces. The project which was finally selected was however not such a time specific concept. It had a rather strategic approach. It argued that the problem was how to integrate the specialised and industrial harbour areas in the everyday life of the city. As an effective instrument, this identified a number of large national cultural institutions such as a new national library, a new national theatre and other “heavy” arts institutions. The argument was that they would attract many people to the harbour front, and from these points of gravitation and activity, it would be possible to generate an acquaintance with the harbour and an interest which could then stimulate and support further initiatives. The winner project was never formally adopted, but in practice it has been this strategy, which has been used to revitalise the inner harbour of the city. The first project to be completed was the national library and the black diamond building, as it is now known. It was initiated as part of Copenhagen European Capital of Culture 1996. The building housed functions, which could attract many citizens and visitors: restaurant, concert hall, meeting
rooms, exhibition spaces, bookshops etc. The administrative and internal functions were kept in the old building. The building became an immediate hit with the public and certainly generated heavy pedestrian traffic on a previously barren harbour front. The harbour competition also had another affect; private investors and developers were convinced about the potential of the harbour for development. By 1990, almost all the available development plots were bought. Even though we are talking about commercial activities, these were in fact inspired and motivated by the cultural activities, and they should be thus accepted as part of this “cultural planning” strategy. New typologies of city quarters were in fact designed and formed, often linked to historical/cultural references, and one experimented with various formats in the context of a changing harbour. In 2000, the Danish shipping magnate Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller donated a new opera to the city, located on the harbour front directly opposite of the Royal Palace. The Opera opened in 2005, but this has not had such a positive affect on levels of public activity in the city, primarily due to its position, which was isolated from the existing nodes and channels of movement in the city. However, together with the relocation of key national schools of architecture, film and performing arts, it did expand the mental map of Copenhageners. However, I am sure that this potential will be fulfilled when the final cross-harbour links are in place. In 2008, the new National Theatre opened, and another large cultural institution was positioned on the waterfront – and precisely on the site proposed by the harbour competition. With a generous open foyer and wide public access to the harbour front, this new public space attracted both visitors and activities. Among the projects in the harbour competition was a proposal from The Danish Outdoor Council, that re-creative activities should be located along the harbour front in an urban garden format on both sides of the harbour.
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