Projects
1001 trees for Copenhagen
Client Copenhagen Municipal Authority
Copenhagen, Denmark
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In 2006 Copenhagen Municipal Authority put out to tender work to upgrade the NorthWestern area of the city, which was won by the firm SLA. The “1001 trees” project allows the upgrading of this area which has great cultural diversity, being a multiethnic zone, and which has residents of all ages. The district is under development and the park is considered a symbol, but also a tool for change in a positive direction. The idea behind the project came from a series of meetings to get to residents' opinions and ideas about the use of this space. The resulting park is so vast and offers so many opportunities that everyone can find room for their favourite activities. There is sports equipment which can be used by Frederikssundsvej School pupils and by local residents, plus the possibility of outdoor activities not available in the rest of the area: barbecues, chess and open-air theatre. The possibilities are endless and reflect the vastness and cultural diversity typical of the north-west.
The SLA design has four simple elements: trees, footpaths, lights and small conical hills. 63 different types of trees give the park different shades of colour throughout the year. The exotic species include Japanese cherry, Korean fir and American Eastern red cedar, whilst species more traditional to Denmark include Swedish service, hawthorn and Scots pine. The presence of lampposts soaring between the trees makes time spent in the park safe even when it's dark. A maze of tarmac footpaths crisscross the park, linking the various sub-sections from Hulegårds Square at the northern end to Ørnevej in the south. The three hills around 15 metres high mark the three sections of the park and boost its overall harmony, offering visitors a sense of depth. They have also become local reference points. The spectacular colourful lighting was created using 246 Multiwoody luminaires with different coloured filters mounted on poles which are also multi-coloured.
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