ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. BIO DIVERCITY – Sankt Kjelds Plads Master Planning in Copenhagen, Denmark by Kubota & bachmann architectsDecember 16th, 2011 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Kubota & bachmann architects
Two axes To clarify the two axes: The streets are actually crowded by parked cars. This needs to be removed to increase the attractiveness of the area for pedestrians and cyclists. Moreover, the space occupied by cars will be transformed into green areas and pedestrian paths. Space for cars will be limited to one lane, with a separate lane for cycles.
Visibility Grown trees on the existing traffic circle are hiding the views, specifically for cyclists, but as well for all traffic users. We propose to allow more visibility, in order to see the orientation and different characteristics of the roads, which will help to identify the streets to users. Bio DiverCITY Varied activities will occur in the open spaces along each axis, and will provide an education of ecological and social living. These activities include several green social spaces, such as areas for playgrounds, art exhibitions, and picnics. In addition, there are several organic gardens, in which participants of all ages will work together and learn about gardening. Gathered fruits, vegetables and flowers can be sold in organic shops on the open public courtyard. Compost material will be used as fertilizer for the garden. This educational system will encourage people to appreciate the value of local gardening techniques.
New Construction Side A and B are reorganized to improve the neighbourhood lifestyle. Added programmatic elements include a sports center and kindergarden, as well as apartments, offices, and commerce areas. All apartments with balconies and terraces are orientated to the south, while the office area is situated in the north of site A. The commerce area exists on a single floor. Depending on the needs, this surface can be expanded to multiple floors. The kindergarden is located in the middle of the open courtyard.
Facade Alignment Our project will improve the streetside façade by implementing order. Screens of glass and growing vegetation make an alignment of facades. These screens are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also create protection from noise and wind, and provide an element of safety for family households. The materialization and colors of the screens will follow the palatte of the existing surrounding buildings. This allows for a consistency between built architecture and natural elements. For example, flowers on screens adjacent to white houses will blossom white. Show Window Courtyard Copenhagen loves the courtyards: several building complexes in CPH include central outdoor spaces. These act as playgrounds, gardens, meeting points for all residents. These areas are protected from traffic noise and children can have safe places to play. These areas are very successful, however unfortunately most of these spots are closed to the general public. Our concept includes an open public courtyard in sites A and B. These areas will be protected by glass screens on the street side, to protect the place from traffic noise and keep the children away from the road. The courtyards are completely open to the public and will be visible from the street and the commercial garden. This will create a new typology: a combination of both public gardens and commerce in an urban environment. The spaces will be the primary space of social gathering in the area.
Bio-climatic zone Greenhouses will create warmth, and foster activity during the cold temperatures in the winter. Some pieces of the roofs are mobile, which allow the spaces to adapt to different needs of each season. During the warm periods of the year, they stay open and ventilate the space below. In the winter, the roof remains closed to build a suitable climate in the space below. The design also reduces the heat demand in the respective buildings. Missing piece If we look at the existing master plan of Sankt Kjelds Plads, the current sites A and B appear quite different from their existing surroundings. Why? They do not have the same materials, nor the same building heights, and the sites are organized differently than the area around. It makes one feels a piece is missing in the puzzle. Our design solves the problem of this missing element, by allowing the two sites to fit seamlessly into the surrounding city. «Not every accumulation of buildings makes a city. A building is a piece of a puzzle and has its specific role in the master plan.
Bryggervangen: The park street This street is linking the Svamermollen station with the Vibenshus Runddel metro station. The Bryggervangen is also linking the Kildevælds parken to the Fælledparken. Those two important public green spaces are going to influence the aspect and the function of the street. The Bryggervangen is a park street. It is possible to run or to cycle thru it. One side is planted with regular rhythm of maple trees; the other side is randomly punctuated with pine trees. The asymmetrical section is making this street a unique, useful and beautiful space.
Tåsingegade: The forest street This street is linking the Ryparken station to the Poul Henningsens Plads metro station. The project idea of that street is to make the soft circulation (pedestrians, cyclist), the aesthetical aspects (quality of lights, diversity of colors …) the ecological aspect (Wildlife corridor) be more important than the car circulation. The sinusoidal road is creating a strong identity like the Winding Lombard street in San Francisco or the highway 42 drawn by the Jens Jensen. The forest environement is also very iconic like the Boslaan in Knokke.
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Tags: Copenhagen, Denmark Categories: Competitions, Master Plan |