Social city

Køge: impermanence and art as tools for urban development

Signe Cecilie Jochumsen — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:16:00 +0000

Culture and the arts play an essential role in the development of contemporary towns. Even so, it may seem abstract and a tad ill-defined to use art and culture as the driving force for sustainable planning and urban development. However, if, as they do in Køge, see planning and development as something process-related and social, art and culture actually have a useful role to play as concrete tools in the development of an area. This explains why there is talk neither of design or specific solution proposals in connection with the development of Køge's new harbour area.

Mexico City: Successful environmental management

Signe Cecilie Jochumsen — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:19:46 +0000

Mexico City is not a place you usually associate with model environmental management, although since 1992, when the city was given the doubtful title of the most polluted city on the planet, initiatives to improve the Mexican capital's environmental health has come on the city's political agenda. The quality of Mexico City's environmental management is well above average compared to other cities in Latin America.

Amsterdam: Urban acupuncture creates new life in the suburbs

Astrid Svane — Tue, 25 May 2010 11:20:13 +0000

Bijlmermeer was built in the 1960s to give Amsterdamers an alternative to living in the densely populated city centre. Enormous concrete blocks with large, well lit flats were to entice people out of the centre, but people moving out preferred to have a house and garden and the flats were left standing empty.

Goa: Mobile schools

Astrid Svane — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:18:54 +0000

In Goa, mobile schools will follow the pupils and not vice-versa. The pupils are children of migrant workers from the state of Karnataka, Goa’s south-western neighbour in the southern part of India. Their parents are employed on short term contracts in Goa, building roads, working in quarries or at building sites. Their offspring cannot attend local schools for the simple reason that they do not speak the local language. The mobile classrooms are located in the parents’ camps, usually for 5-8 month until the families move on.

Carlsberg: Our town

Astrid Svane — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:22:58 +0000

The aim of developing the Carlsberg area is to create a multifunctional district with the focus on economic, environmental and social sustainability. The master plan for 'Our Town' was conceived by Entasis Architects, who have drawn up plans for a district which, when completed, will comprise 3000 homes, commercial premises and institutions. There will be cafes and shops at street level and various different types of homes.

Hampshire: Twinning schools engenders acceptance

Astrid Svane — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:50:56 +0000

The object of the School Cohesion Project is to reduce cultural, religious and socio-economic intolerance between children and to help them understand the difference was something to appreciate rather than something to fear. The schools involved were allotted a twin to work with. The children are aged 7-14 and come from different cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Copenhagen: Life at the harbour

June-Catherina Starling — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:01:05 +0000

A rare chance to develop a city district

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BedZED: Promoting green living

Kit Sand Ottsen — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:16:37 +0000

Located South of London in a town called Wallington, BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development) is UK’s first and largest eco-village. The multi award-winning project was initiated by the environmental organisation BioRegional and was designed by Bill Dunster Architects. Completed in 2002, the development illustrates the capabilities of present-day environmental technologies and demonstrates that a sustainable lifestyle can be achieved without compromising the characteristics associated with modern urban living.
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Copenhagen: Noise barriers raise the standard of living

Malene Freudendal-Pedersen — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:21 +0000

Before a surge in the motor vehicle use of Tangensvej and a subsequent increase in traffic noise pollution, each of the 150 apartments of a nearby complex had its own balcony, while two courtyards separating the buildings offered a common space for the occupants to relax in. The Three Sisters, as the buildings are called, were designed by the Danish architect Kay Fisker and were erected in 1931. Initially designed to be a quaint peaceful area of communal living, the architect's original vision has been lost as cars have become more and more dominant.
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Lewisham, London: Park keepers create safer environments

June-Catherina Starling — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:45:29 +0000

In the London Borough of Lewisham a 10 year public-private partnership was initiated in 2000. The partnership between the Council of Lewisham and the green service provider Glendale Grounds Management is responsible for the maintenance of 46 parks and open spaces in the borough.
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Porto Alegre - Engaging citizens in city budgeting

Malene Freudendal-Pedersen — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:56:38 +0000

How should the city spend its money? This is the question laid out for the citizens of Porto Alegre. Participatory Budgeting, in its most basic sense, refers to turning over budgetary decisions to the citizens impacted by the budget. Accordingly, the citizens of Porto Alegre are able to make real decisions, demand accountability, and monitor results. In this sense, Participatory Budgeting has come to act as a tool for learning about and spreading democracy as well as an entryway into civic life.
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Hoogvliet – Welcome in My BackYard (WiMBY!)

Malene Freudendal-Pedersen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:03:57 +0000

How can you create a liveable place where residents feel at home? This was the leading question behind the regeneration project WiMBY! which was initiated in the post-war satellite town of Hoogvliet near Rotterdam in 2001. WiMBY! began as a small independent foundation whose day-to-day management was in the hands of Crimson Architectural Historians and journalist and politician Felix Rottenberg.
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