The feeling of
travelling overseas for the first time for a school field trip is the best
break ever, I am so happy to be on this trip, I just cannot wait to have a
change of environment and to explore the richness and architectural creativity
of a new country. As I prepare to meet my tutors and peers at the train station
I practically forgot to eat breakfast. We departed Heathrow Airport at 11:30
and arrived Copenhagen Kastrup Airport at 2:30 local time.
Just as we were
landing I thought to myself what if it gets snowing, I am not properly dressed
and my trainers has no friction resistance, not too long I looked out of my
window and BOOM!!!
There comes Mr Snow, I was speechless for a minute and I said
to myself the weather cannot be that bad so snap out of it and enjoy the field
trip. What a shock I was in for because this was just the beginning……………
‘WELCOME TO COPENHAGEN’
I embraced the cold
with love and spoke to it with a soft loving voice, ‘hey Mr Snow I am here on a
tour and to study please do be kind and be gently on my skin, I do not want to
fall ill in a trip such as this.’
On arrival, David
Birkbeck our tour guide gave each one of us tour maps of the city and briefed
us on the sites we were to visit on that day.
We started our tour
of Amager Strand and we went to see the residential apartments located in
Orestad which is an urban development designed by Bjaek Ingels founder and
owner of BIG practice.
On arrival to the
site I was amazed at the level of development and the architectural style in
display which was totally different coming from the United Kingdom where I
study. Looking at the building style it was obvious that the Danish Planning
Policy have a unique and different approach to design which is far different,
unique and more creative in style.
The development can be seen in the following
areas such as the choice of building materials, wall finish & cladding
(exterior and interior), wider roads for cyclists and car owners. The country
is known for its sustainable green architecture style.
The residential apartments
in Orestaden are outstanding building which has met the following needs.
·
Providing
well designed and maintained buildings
·
Created
good supply and mix of affordable low energy homes and neighbourhoods with
older, disabled and younger people in mind
·
Good
transport infrastructure.
·
Good
private space amongst the residents.
The apartments
which spread out horizontally have the kitchen and living spaces on the ground
level while the upper level has the bedrooms. We toured the entire building
from one level to another on a gently sloped ramp without any form of
discomfort.
Another interesting
aspect of the tour was the Architects idea of creating streets within the
building complex so as to localise the service needs of the residents who may
not be abled men /women. This is indeed a plus to the urban development because
in most densely populated cities, the welfare of the residents is usually not
taken into considerations.
Another interesting
area we visited on the walking tour was the Mountain Dwellings which are the 2nd
generation of the VM Houses, another building designed by Bjaek Ingels for BIG.
Image courtesy: http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/12/BIG-Mountain-Dwellings-4.jpg
Image courtesy: http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2478270_big-03-528x351.jpg
Image courtesy: http://cavin2009.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/64-e_mountain-dwellings.JPG
The Mountain
Dwellings incorporated the use of green roof garden as a low energy production
system, also the mountain dwellings which is a storey building look like a suburban
neighbourhood of garden homes that has two merged functions (parking and
housing block). The combination of a parking system gives the people the
opportunity to enjoy both worlds (City & Garden Life). The roof garden
consists of a terrace and a garden with plants which separates the garden by a
glass façade from the apartment. The building has a huge watering system which
maintains the roof garden. The facades are covered with perforated aluminium
plates which allow light and air to enter into the parking area. This apartment
building encouraged me to shake off my fear of height as I took the big step to
climb the mountainous stairs. It is indeed a sustainable city which increases
the quality of life of the residents. The vibrant colours used on the exterior
facades bring life to the spaces and the people dwelling in them. After the
tour for the day we checked into our hotel (Wake Up Copenhagen, got refreshed
and went for a typical Danish dinner. Yeah, I almost forgot about my friend Mr
Snow the weather man, I would say he came to stay and he brought all his family
along with him. Thank God I was able to go through the day in one piece.
