This document provides information about public spaces and quality of life in Copenhagen, Denmark. It discusses how Copenhagen was rebuilt after major fires in the 18th century, which allowed the city to improve its urban design. Copenhagen now has a highly walkable and bikeable transportation system with fewer cars and less pollution. Public spaces prioritize human interaction and health. The document profiles Jan Gehl, an architect who advocated for pedestrian-focused design. It examines how Copenhagen created bike lanes and quiet streets to reduce traffic. Overall, the document outlines how Copenhagen rebuilt itself around public spaces and quality of life after fires destroyed parts of the city.

1. THE VALUE OF S PACES
& Q UALIT Y OF PUBLIC LIF E
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
THE PIAZZ A DEL C AMPIDOGL I O
BY JEREMY FUNG, SERENA LEUNG, SABRINA
JUNG, MOSES IP, KATIE NG, TINK NEWMAN

2. COPENHAGE N
OPPOR TUNIT Y TO REBUIL D
THE COPENHAGEN FIRE OF 1728 WAS THE LARGEST FIRE
IN THE HISTORY OF COPENHAGEN. IT DESTROYED
AROUND 28% OF THE CITY AND THE RECONSTRUCTION
LASTS UNTIL 1737. ANOTHER FIRE ALSO HAPPENED IN
1795 DESTROYING WHAT ALMOST ALL OF WHAT WAS
LEFT OF THE MEDIEVAL COPENHAGEN. AFTER ALL THE
DESTRUCTION, COPENHAGEN WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO
REBUILD AND IMPROVE ITS URBAN DESIGN.
where Copenhagen was burne d

3. “
AN GEHL
COPENHAGEN IS KNOWN TO LOCALS AS A PLACE THAT IS EASY OUTGOING, MODERN - [WITH] MORE SPACES IN THE STREETS, [WITH AN]
EASY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO FOLLOW. IT IS EASY TO TRAVEL, [WITH] MANY BICYCLES - LESS CARS - CLEANER AIR.
- JULIA, COPENHAGEN LOCAL, PAST SFU EXCHANGE STUDENT STUDYING BUSINESS IN INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY.
”

4. EDGES CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE INTERFACE
DUE TO THE INCREASED AMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE, COPENHAGEN HAS A FLEXIBLE
AND APPROACHABLE SPACE THAT ALLOWS EVENTS AND EXHIBITION DISPLAYS TO TAKE
PLACE. MANY OF COPENHAGEN’S BUILDINGS HAVE VERTICAL, CHANGING STRUCTURES
IN THEIR FACADES WHICH MAKES PROMENADES MORE ENJOYABLE. THE SOFT FACADES
OF THE GLAZED STORE FRONTS ALLOW PASSERBYS TO INTERACT WITH, LOOK INSIDE
AND SOMETIMES TOUCH WHAT THE STORE IS SELLING.

5. A REDUCED
SCALE AND
EMBRACED
DEMOGRAPHICS
IN COPENHAGEN, A COHESIVE NETWORK FOR BICYCLES COMPRISING ALL PARTS OF THE CITY HAS GRADUALLY BEEN ESTABLISHED.
TRAFFIC IS SO QUIET ON SMALL SIDE STREETS AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN 15 AND 30 KM PER HOUR/9 AND 19 MPH ZONES.
ON MOST STREETS, THE NETWORK CONSISTS OF BICYCLE PATHS ALONG THE SIDEWALKS, TYPICALLY USING THE CURBSTONES AS
DIVIDERS TOWARD THE SIDEWALK, AS WELL AS PARKING AND DRIVING LANES. IN SOME PLACES BIKE LANES ARE NOT DELIMITED BY
CURBSTONES, BUT RATHER MARKED WITH PAINTED STRIPES INSIDE A ROW OF PARKED CARS, SO THAT THE CARS PROTECT THE
BICYCLES FROM MOTORIZED TRAFFIC. IN FACT, THIS SYSTEM IS KNOWN AS “COPENHAGEN-STYLE BICYCLE LANES.”

6. “OUR APPROACH TO DESIGN EXTENDS BEYOND THE USE OF
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND ADVOCATING WALKING, CYCLING
AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT. WE PROMOTE A HOLISTIC
LIFESTYLE. OUR DESIGN SOLUTIONS PRIORITIZE LIFE QUALITY,
HEALTH, SAFETY AND AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. “
-JAN GEHL
A RECORD OF PUBLIC LIFE

7. LIFE : NEC ESSARY, OP T I ON A L & S OCI A L ACTI V I TI ES
“
PEOPLE COME WHERE PEOPLE ARE” - AS PEOPLE SEE OTHER PEOPLE DOING/WATCHING SOMETHING,
“
THEY JOIN IN THE HUMAN DIMENSION.
.
A GOOD CITY IS LIKE A GOOD PARTY – PEOPLE STAY MUCH LONGER THAN
REALLY NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES” - JAN GEHL

8. UP UNTIL 1939, COPENHAGEN WAS A BICYCLE CITY. BUT BY THE MID 50’S, CARS HAVE INVADED DUE TO THE CHEAP PETROLEUM
READILY AVAILABLE. THE FIRST DANISH HIGHWAY HØRSHOLMVEJEN WAS BUILT AND BY 1960’S, PEOPLE STARTED COMPLAINING ABOUT
THE DISRUPTION CAUSED BY THE CARS. CARS WERE THEN REMOVED 1 KILOMETER AWAY FROM STRØGET STREET, THE LARGEST
PEDESTRIAN SHOPPING STREET.
NOW
IN HOPES TO INCREASE THE 36% OF TRIPS BY BIKE, HELMETS ARE NOT REQUIRED. AS WELL, IN THE WINTER, SNOW IS REMOVED FROM
BICYCLE TRACKS FIRST.
SAFET Y MAKING TRAFFIC SAFER
“
“
“PEDESTRIAN AREAS AND BICYCLE PATHS SHOULD BE CLEARED BEFORE ROADS FOR CAR TRAFFIC”
- GEHL
“CARS- THERE ARE OF COURSE. BUT THERE ARE NOT BIG PROBLEMS ON THE STREETS. PEOPLE DRIVE CAREFULLY. ALCOHOL IS TOO
EXPENSIVE TO DRIVE DRUNK, ALTHOUGH AS A NATION LIKE TO DRINK (EVEN DURING THE DAY).”
- JULIA

9. BICYCLE PATHS IN COPENHAGEN VARY IN WIDTH FROM 1.7 TO 4 METERS/5.5 TO 13 FEET, WITH 2.5 METERS/8.2
FEET AS THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM.
AS BICYCLE TRAFFIC IS GRADUALLY DEVELOPED INTO A VERSATILE, POPULAR TRANSPORT SYSTEM, MANY
NEW AND WIDER BICYCLES APPEAR ON THE STREET SCENE. THESE INCLUDE THREE-WHEELED TRANSPORT
BICYCLES FOR CHILDREN AND GOODS, HANDICAP BICYCLES AND BICYCLE TAXIS. ALL OF THESE TRANSPORT
OPTIONS REQUIRE ROOM, AND SENIOR BIKERS AS WELL AS THE MANY PARENTS WHO TRANSPORT THEIR
CHILDREN BY BICYCLE NEED INCREASED REASSURANCE THAT THEY WON’T BE PUSHED AND CROWDED.
A STUDY CONDUCTED IN COPENHAGEN IN 2005 CONCLUDED THAT ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST PRESSING
PROBLEMS WAS HEAVY CONGESTION ON BICYCLE PATHS. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SINCE ADOPTED AN
EXPANSION OF THE WIDTH OF BICYCLE PATHS IN THE MOST POPULAR STREETS AND IS CURRENTLY CARRYING
OUT THIS POLICY.
SUSTAINABLE INCLUSIVE ENVIR ONMENT

10. SLIDE 16PDC
IN ITALY, IT IS COMMON FOR STORES, BANKS, AND STREETS TO BE CLOSED AND EMPTY DURING LUNCH TIME FOR AT LEAST TWO
CU LTURAL ASPECTS
HOURS. EVEN BUSINESSES COME TO A HALT. ITALIANS VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING THEIR LIFE, SO SPENDING AN HOUR OR TWO
FOR LUNCH IS A DAILY EVENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT INCORPORATES A TRADITIONAL TWO TO THREE COURSE MEAL WITH THEIR FAMILY
AND FRIENDS. BY 2 O’CLOCK, PEOPLE WILL ROAM THE STREETS ONCE AGAIN UNTIL DINNER AT 7:30PM, AND DISAPPEAR ONCE MORE
UNTIL THEY ARE FINISHED. CHRISTIAN IV LED DENMARK INTO A THIRTY-YEAR WAR AGAINST SWEDEN, ULTIMATELY LOSING AND
HISTORICALLY,
LEADING HIS NATION INTO AN ERA OF DEBT. THE DANISH MONARCHS WERE KNOWN TO HAVE PLACED HIGH TAXES ON
THEIR CITIZENS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY, ENSURING THAT THE CITY OF COPENHAGEN RECEIVES OPTIMUM MAINTENANCE.
WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE CITY WAS EXPERIENCING ISOLATED SECTIONS DUE TO THE
INCREASING DIFFICULTY TO FIND ANY FORM OF SPACE FOR VEHICLES. AS SUCH, THE IDEA OF PEDESTRIANISING STROGET
STREET WAS PROPOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE REACTION FROM THE PUBLIC WAS NEGATIVE, STATING THAT A
WALKING STREET, NORMALLY FOUND IN ITALY, WOULD NEVER WORK IN DENMARK. THE NEW STREET, HOWEVER,
TRIUMPHED OVER ITS CRITICS , PAVING THE WAY FOR MANY MORE PEDESTRIANISED STREETS.
“ FIRST LIF E, THEN SPACES , THEN BUILDINGS – THE OTHER WAY AROUND NEVER WORKS. ” - JAN GEHL
PIAZZA DEL CAMPIDOGLIO

11. SLIDE 18 SHIFT
ECONOMICCPH
HISTORICALLY, CHRISTIAN IV LED DENMARK INTO A THIRTY-YEAR WAR AGAINST SWEDEN, ULTIMATELY LOSING AND LEADING HIS
THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN DENMARK RELY HEAVILY ON MANUFACTURING (73.3% OF GDP), WHICH NORMALLY HAS POLLUTION AS A
NATION INTO AN ERA OF DEBT. THE DANISH MONARCHS WERE KNOWN TO HAVE PLACED HIGH TAXES ON THEIR CITIZENS TO BOOST THE
BY-PRODUCT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE DENMARK ALSO RELIES ON AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMPTION (18.7%), IT
ECONOMY, ENSURING THAT THE CITY OF COPENHAGEN RECEIVES OPTIMUM MAINTENANCE.
IS IMPERATIVE THAT THEY WATCH THEIR LEVELS OF POLLUTION TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. MUCH OF WHAT DRAWS VISITORS TO
VISIT AND SPEND MONEY IN COPENHAGEN IS THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, BASED ON THE LESSER POLLUTION LEVELS, THE DESIGN AND
“FIRST LIFE, THEN SPACES, THEN BUILDINGS – THE OTHER WAY AROUND NEVER WORKS.”- JAN GEHL
EXPERIENCE OF THE CITY ITSELF. IT WOULD BE IN THE CITY’S BEST INTERESTS TO MAINTAIN A WELL-DESIGNED PUBLIC SPACE.
WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE CITY WAS EXPERIENCING ISOLATED SECTIONS DUE TO THE INCREASING
DIFFICULTY TO FIND ANY FORM OF SPACE FOR VEHICLES. AS SUCH, THE IDEA OF PEDESTRIANISING STROGET STREET WAS PROPOSED
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE REACTION FROM THE PUBLIC WAS NEGATIVE, STATING THAT A WALKING STREET, NORMALLY FOUND IN
ITALY, WOULD NEVER WORK IN DENMARK. THE NEW STREET, HOWEVER, TRIUMPHED OVER ITS CRITICS , PAVING THE WAY FOR MANY
MORE PEDESTRIANISED STREETS

12. ZAMULTIPLICIT Y, DIVERSIT Y, CREATIVIT Y
DEL CAMPIDOGLIO
SLIDE
A REQUIREMENT TO ENSURE THAT A CITY PROVIDES EACH INDIVIDUAL A MEMORABLE AND PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, IS FOR IT TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME
ANYONE AND EVERYONE INTO IT. TO ENSURE SUCH DEMOCRATIC OPTIONS, IT WILL FIRST NEED TO BE TOLERANT AND AS SUCH, THE CITY SHOULD
POSSESS A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.
COPENHAGEN IS A CLEAN CITY, ALWAYS INVITED PLACES CAN BOAST ABOUT.
COPENHAGEN’S HISTORY AS A TRADE HARBOUR HASWHICH NOT MANYTHE POSSIBILITY OF AN INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCE, AND AS SUCH, THEY HAVE MADE
THE EFFORT TO MAKEIT IS HEALTHY AND APPEALING ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE INVITATION TO PEOPLE THROUGH PEDESTRIANISED STREETS TRAFFIC. - JULIA
THEIR CITY MORE SPACIOUS, AS A MEETING PLACE. THE WITH MORE HAPPINESS AND LESS STRESS, POLLUTION AND AND OPENED
FACADES HAVE ESTABLISHED THEM AS A CITY THAT CARES ABOUT PEOPLE.
THE EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC INTERACTION AND SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE HAS LED DESIGNERS TO TRY AND BLEND MODERNISM WITH A SENSE OF DANISH
TRADITIONAL DESIGN, WHICH CAN BE SHOWN THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN STUDIO CALLED “&TRADITION”.

13. CAPITOLINE HILL
CAPITOLINE HILL PIAZZA DEL COMPIDOGLIO IS PLACED
DIRECTLY AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. DESPITE BEING THE
SMALLEST OF ROME'S SEVEN HILLS, IT WAS HELD
SACRED AS THE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL CENTER OF
THE CITY. LEFT IN RUINS BY THE MIDDLE AGES, FARNESE
POPE PAUL III COMMENDED MICHELANGELO IN HOPES TO
RESTORE ITS ONCE GRAND STATE FOR THE ENTRANCE OF
CHARLES V, THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR.
PIAZZA DEL CAMPIDOGLIO

14. PIAZZA DEL CAMPIDOGLIO
PA L A Z ZOS E N ATOR I O
BUILT ON THE REMAINS OF THE TABULARIUM, A RECORD BUILDING, THE ESSENTIAL USAGE OF THIS BUILDING WAS MADE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, WHERE
THE ROMAN SENATE WAS SEATED. THIS BUILDING WAS ALSO THE BACKGROUND TO THE PIAZZA, TO WHICH MICHELANGELO SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
A DOUBLE-FLIGHT OF STAIRS LEADING TOWARDS IT, AT THE SAME TIME SEPARATING THE FACADE.
PAL AZZO NUOVO
CONSISTED OF AN ELECTED MAGISTRATURE WHO HAD THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THE CITY. MANY SCULPTURE AND PAINTINGS CAN BE FOUND WITHIN IT AND IS
NOW A MUSEUM MADE UP WITH PALAZZO NUOVO.
PAL AZZO DEICONSERVATORI
THE EXTERIORS OF THIS FACADE IS IDENTICAL TO PALAZZO DEI CONSERVATORI, CREATED BY MICHELANGELO ONE CENTURY EARLIER, WITH THE PURPOSE OF
FINISHING THE PIAZZA SYMMETRICALLY.

15. HEALTH, HAPPINESS
IN ITALY, IT IS COMMON FOR STORES, BANKS, AND STREETS TO BE CLOSED AND EMPTY DURING LUNCH TIME FOR AT LEAST
“
TWO HOURS. EVEN BUSINESSES COME TO A HALT. ITALIANS VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING THEIR LIFE, SO SPENDING
COPENHAGEN IS A CLEAN CITY, WHICH NOT MANY PLACES CAN BOAST ABOUT.
AN HOUR OR TWO FOR LUNCH IS A DAILY EVENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT INCORPORATES A TRADITIONAL TWO TO THREE
IT IS HEALTHY AND SPACIOUS, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH MORE HAPPINESS AND LESS STRESS, POLLUTION AND TRAFFIC. - JULIA
COURSE MEAL WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BY 2 O’CLOCK, PEOPLE WILL ROAM THE STREETS ONCE AGAIN UNTIL
”
DINNER AT 7:30PM, AND DISAPPEAR ONCE MORE UNTIL THEY ARE FINISHED.
HEALTH

16. T E X T UR E & DETAILS
“
CITY BUILDINGS HOLD ATTRACTIONS FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING SLOWLY. APPEALING
GROUND FLOORS OFFER TEXTURE, GOOD MATERIALS AND A WEALTH OF DETAILS.
”

17. “
AND FOR MANY GROUPS IN SOCIETY STAIRS ARE A DIRECT BARRIER.
C O R D ONATA: A RAM P E D S TAIRC AS E
”

18. “
THE EDGES OF A CITY LIMIT THE VISUAL FIELD AND DEFINE INDIVIDUAL SPACE. EDGES MAKE A VITAL
CONTRIBUTION TO SPATIAL EXPERIENCE AND TO THE AWARENESS OF INDIVIDUAL SPACE AS A PLACE.
per fectly propor tioned square
”
E DGES T H AT DE F IN E S PACE

19. “
AT T R ACTIVE SEATIN G
TR AC TIVE SE AT ING
WHEN LOCAL CLIMATE, PLACEMENT, PROTECTION AND VIEW JOIN FORCES,
THE SEATING PLACE PROVIDES THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS.
EDG E EFFE CT
”

20. “
IF THE PLACE OFFERS SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS SUCH AS WATER, TREES, FLOWERS, FINE SPACE,
GOOD ARCHITECTURE AND ART WORKS, THE INDIVIDUAL WANTS A GOOD VIEW OF THEM.
“
”
DOMINATED SQUARE IS A SQUARE THAT IS DIRECTED WITH BUILDINGS OR
OTHER ELEMENTS LIKE FOUNTAINS AND THE STRUCTURES ARE RELATED WITH
”
TH E V I EW

21. TO INVIT E
“
SEEING AND HEARING CONTACTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND COMMON FORM OF CONTACT
BETWEEN PEOPLE IN PUBLIC SPACE. PHYSICAL PLANNING CAN INVITE OR REPEL BASIC SEEING AND HEARING CONTACTS.
”

22. “
THE KEY TO ENSURING BETTER CONDITIONS FOR THE HUMAN DIMENSION
-JAN GEHL
”

23. REFERENCES
A VIEW ON CITIES. CAMPIDOGLIO. RETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011 FROM HTTP://WWW.AVIEWONCITIES.COM/ROME/CAMPIDOGLIO.HTM/
CAN, I., & SAYGIN, N. (2007). TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC SPACE: A CASE OF KONAK SQUARE, İZMIR. SAN FRANCISCO: [S.N.].
A VIEW ON CITIES. CAMPIDOGLIO. RETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011 FROM HTTP://WWW.AVIEWONCITIES.COM/ROME/CAMPIDOGLIO.HTM/
GEHL, J. (2010). CITIES FOR PEOPLE, WASHINGTON: ISLAND PRESS.
CAN, I., & SAYGIN, N. (2007). TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC SPACE: A CASE OF KONAK SQUARE, İZMIR. SAN FRANCISCO: [S.N.].
GEHL, J. GEMZØE, L. KIRKNÆS, S & SØNDERGAARD, B.S. (2006). NEW CITY LIFE, COPENHAGEN: THE DANISH ARCHITECHTURAL PRESS.
GEHL, J. (2010). CITIES FOR PEOPLE, WASHINGTON: ISLAND PRESS.
PHILLIP, D. L. (2009, OCTOBER). JAN GEHL. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES. RETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011, FROM HTTP://WWW.PPS.ORG/ARTICLES/JGEHL/
GEHL, J. GEMZØE, L. KIRKNÆS, S & SØNDERGAARD, B.S. (2006). NEW CITY LIFE, COPENHAGEN: THE DANISH ARCHITECHTURAL PRESS.
JOHN, R. P. (2009, DECEMBER). CAPITOLINE HILL AND MUSEUMS, ROME. SACRED DESTINATIONS. RETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011 FROM
HTTP://WWW.SACRED-DESTINATIONS.COM/ITALY/ROME-CAPITOLINE-MUSEUMS
HTTP://WWW.SACRED-DESTINATIONS.COM/ITALY/ROME-CAPITOLINE-MUSEUMS/
HTTP://WWW.AVIEWONCITIES.COM/ROME/CAMPIDOGLIO.HTM
HTTP://ENTERTAINMENT.HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM/ARTS/ARTWORK/MICHELANGELO-BUILDINGS8.HTM
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/ROSS_HARPER/3622184136/
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SOUIKY/5387984938/
PHILLIP, D. L. (2009, OCTOBER). JAN GEHL. PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES. RETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011, FROM HTTP://WWW.PPS.ORG/ARTICLES/JGEHL/
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/ROSS_HARPER/3622184136/
JOHN, R. P. (2009, DECEMBER). CAPITOLINE HILL AND MUSEUMS, ROME. SACRED DESTINATIONS. RETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011 FROM
HTTP://WWW.SACRED-DESTINATIONS.COM/ITALY/ROME-CAPITOLINE-MUSEUMS/
MILLER, B. (2008, JANUARY). INFLUENCE OF INDUSTRY ON URBAN CONSCIOUSNESS. ETRIEVED OCTOBER 29TH, 2011 FROM HTTP://WWW.STATE.GOV/R/PA/EI/BGN/3167.HTM