In the New York Times today is an article about what is and what has happened in Copenhagen, Denmark regarding the development of new areas close to the city. It is a well-done article, though I feel it could have focused on the greener elements of these urban planning projects. Denmark, and Copenhagen especially, is part of the leading trend in uniting green living and efficient design.
My partner and I actually stayed in the Orestad region of Copenhagen when we visited last summer. We were both amazed at the quality of the place. Yes, everything is new, and those "starchitects" know how to dazzle, especially in architecture friendly Scandinavia. However, the quality was more than that. There were abundant wind turbines around; green spaces other than undeveloped lots were graciously and plentifully weaved into general planning of the area. The metro line was convenient and easy to use, and took us quickly into the city center.
As the article points out, there is still some work to be done, but this newish development of Orestad could and should be used as a blueprint for other communities looking to expand, renovate, or appear. I do wish the article would have mentioned the redevelopment of the Malmö, Sweden waterfront in detail. We also visited that city and saw the amazing transformation that took place on its waterfront, with green designs and energy efficiency through and through. Scandinavia, definitely has a lot to be proud of while it continues to work toward a greater environmentally-friendly future. My hope is that our nation and others can look upon these grand projects and implement them in a way that increases local flavor and prosperity, while reducing human impacts on our beloved planet.
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