Case Studies 

Please note that these Hall of Shame nominations were written in a moment in time (most over a decade ago) and likely have since changed or even been transformed. If the above entry is now great, or still not so great, go ahead and comment below on how it has evolved or nominate it as a great place.

*Nominee 

Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)

Copenhagen

Denmark

Contributed by 
Jesper Egevang
Project for Public Spaces
 on 
January 27, 2010
May 1, 2024

It's an open space which has not yet found its uses and design located next to the several hundred years old canal at the historical centre of Copenhagen and the harbour front. It lies next to the square surrounding 'the Black Diamant' which you already have listed among your great places. \nURLS:\n Our website: www.talkingpoints.dk Facebook: search for 'bryghusgrunden' or the 'brewery park'

What makes it Great?

Why it doesn't work?

The size of the Brewery Site is 12000sqm (approx. 110'000sqf). Until 1960 it hosted the old Royal Brewery. Since then it has functioned as a playground and huge parking lot. It lies right next to the historical canal environment and the harbour front. The neighbourhood is characterized by preserved historical building front he 16th to th 19th century. A company who characterizes itself as philantropic wants to construct a huge commercial office building whereas the citizens and numbers of Danish and international NGOs want to create one of the world best recreatioal cultural environments. The place is very special and dear to most of Copenhagen's inhabitant due to its historical value and surroundings, and due to the fact that a vision create by our community group has shown the place's enourmous potential in terms of creating a unique urban space with multifunctional features.

Access & Linkages

The place is located at the very centre of the historical part of Copenhagen. It is accessible on foot, by public transport, bicycles etc. It is currently being used as a playground for multiple school, kindergartens, nurseries, and for after school activities, as well as a parking lot. The place surely needs rehabilitation. The question is whether it should host a huge commercial building or Copenhagen's new and most attractive urban space with enormous recreational and cultural potential.

Comfort & Image

Apart from the children using the place it does not make a good first impression. However, when explaning our vision people get entusiastic and wants to get involved. Very fast, people sees the potential for the citizens as well as for the city as a whole.

Uses & Activities

The place is regularly used by children's institutions. However, the vision is that the place should become the city's most attractive recreational cultural environment for all, children, youth, adults, elderly, people who wants to relax, people who wants to exlore the historical environment, and people who wants to use the waterways, the historical canal and the harbou front. At the harbour front, a huge ship is currently offering concerts as part of the Copenhagen Jazz festival, and cultural urban design event is currently using parts of the harbour front. The place has potential to become one of Denmark's if not Europes most attractive urban spaces.

Sociability

People who currently uses the place are enjoying themselves. Children are playing, youth and adults are listening to music. The atmosphere is relaxed. The place is currently attractive mostly to locals, however, with the vision project the idea is to make it attractive to everyone who enjoys the historical centre of Copenhagen, the canal and harbour environment, and the cultural heritage atmosphere.

How Light?

How Quick?

How Cheap?

History & Background

The City Council of Copenhagen has not yet decided whether or not they are going for the citizens vision project or the commercial investor's construction project. Almost everybody acknowledge that a huge construction would disfigure the entire historical neighbourhood for ever, however, the commercial investor is among the riches companies in Denmark and that why the politicians are nervous. The politicians are in need of an excellent vision project to choose our project. We have not been able to attract architects because the commercial investor frightens them from involving themselves in our project. We need international support. Recently, more than 250 European NGOs organized in Europa Nostra (a pan-European cultural heritage organization wrote a protest letter to the Danish government against the commercial inestor's construction protest.

Related Links & Sources

Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)
Bryghusgrunden (The Brewery Site)

*Please note that these Hall of Shame nominations were written in a moment in time (most over a decade ago) and likely have since changed or even been transformed. If the above entry is now great, or still not so great, go ahead and comment below on how it has evolved or nominate it as a great place.

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