JOSEPH LICO
This figure ground drawing of Copenhagen, Denmark captures a high traffic area of cars, bikes, and pedestrians. The largest influence of this is Tivoli Gardens, and the public spaces around City Hall. This figure, though, highlights a small block just north of Tivoli Gardens where the small Pocket Park and public square of Axeltrov provides an urban space for commerce and various modes of transportation.
This areal view highlights a small block around Axeltrov, a public square in central Copenhagen, Denmark. At the intersection of Vesterbrogade and H.C. Andersons Boulevard, this block features the new Axel Towers and a more traditional Copenhagen multipurpose building. The primary uses for both buildings are office space and retail space, creating a gradient and public space between the Tivoli Gardens just south of it and to the rest of Copenhagen.
This drawing depicts a small block around Axeltrov, a public square in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is across the street of Tivoli Gardens and is considered a Pocket Park for informal public engagement. This block includes the newly constructed multipurpose building Axel Towers juxtaposed with a more traditional building found in central Copenhagen. The drawing highlights the different modes of transportation and circulation of people. Since the 1970’s during an energy crisis, Copenhagen has had a goal of becoming one of the most sustainable cities, and that included integrating more bike and walking space
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with cars, bikes, and pedestrian paths each being treated, more or less, as equals in the urban design of the environment. Since they are fairly equal in terms of their use among residents of Copenhagen, it shows that they are each separately considered in the urban fabric of the space. Initially, while the Axel Towers were intended to purely be an office building, a decision was made late in the process to turn the lower floors into more public areas including spaces for retail, commerce, and dining
— all helping to facilitate greater urban participation.
This Actor-Network map traces the history of Copenhagen’s urban design and how that has influenced the land and positioning of the current Axel Towers. With the fortified nature of the city centuries ago, efforts to change it has allowed for opportunities beautification and architecture to define and create an identity for the city. The fortified city created large promenades allowing for opportunities for commerce and public engagement. During an energy crisis in the 1970s, Copenhagen has pushed to become a very green city and have enacted many initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint. One being their heavy reliance on bicycles for transportation — which has also influenced the urban design. They also introduced what they call Pocket Parks where they try to make any unused space a public gathering space. This has given rise to many small ares of public access and engagement, including the Axeltrov plaza, creating a very equitable environment for everyone.
This image depicts the Axel Towers and a new vision for the Axeltorv public square it is situated upon. In order to help improve and act on Copenhagen’s “Eco-Metropolis Plan,” this image depicts a much greener approach to the public areas in Copenhagen. By completely removing cars from the public space and by giving people reason to stay, it can make cycling and walking an even larger influence on the physical environment than it already is. This means more room for greenery and more spontaneous interactions between passerby’s. This can turn the otherwise fairly empty public pocket park into something people are more likely to enjoy and spend time in, including making the space more inclusive and equitable.