Journal

A selection of streets from the Nordhavn and Strandvejskvarteret quarters of Copenhagen.

These are residential developments separated by over 100 years yet connected by a similar ethos. In each case the streets feel designed for pedestrians and cyclists first, with planting and seating creating a convivial sense of place as well as obstructing and slowing traffic. The road is not a 6m wide swathe of tarmac with concrete kerbs, designed to codes or adoptable standards, instead the road and parking is incidental with materials flowing through.In each case it feels that pedestrians lend their conditional, temporary permission for vehicles to share space with them on their terms. The obligation is on the driver to drive slowly and carefully enough to ensure the safety of pedestrians instead of the pedestrians being pushed to the margins.

In Strandvejskvarteret residents feel sufficiently safe to leave children’s play equipment, scooters, balls and goals outside in the street. When we passed through someone had left a box of chalks for kids to draw on the road.

In each case homes successfully fronted on to the street with gardens and terraces without being terrorised back inside by noise and pollution from the street.

The result is a series of urban spaces where I felt at ease, safe, places I wanted to inhabit.