Member Article

If Copenhagen made cities…

With environmental concerns becoming more of a key consideration when it comes to development, Heartland Group MD, Tamsin Harrison, looks across the water to see how other countries are tackling the issues.

They’ve made lager that is ‘probably the best in the world’, and got everyone feeling fuzzy with the concept of hygge, but could Denmark’s greatest export be their approach to urban design?

Consistently named as one of the healthiest and happiest places to live, Copenhagen is a wonder of design. From its emphasis on cycling as a main form of transport to initiatives such as free stress clinics for any who need them.

The secret to this success lies in their approach and uncovering a fundamental truth; that to encourage people to live healthier, more active lifestyles, you must design environments that make the healthy and active choices the easiest options.

Whilst many people will strive to make choices about transport and foods that are healthy, ultimately the choice will come down to convenience. It must be easier and more time efficient to walk or ride a bike than go to the bother of getting in the car. It must be easier to find food outlets with fresh options as opposed to high calorie fast food. In this idea, the Danes truly excel.

So, could the idea translate across the North Sea?

Whilst it could be hard to retrofit some of the concepts into existing city structures, there is no reason that some of the Danish ideals couldn’t be adapted to new developments.

Imagine taking an area in decline, empty buildings and no infrastructure, and transforming it into a healthy living designer community; complete with cycle routes included on all roads as standard, greater pedestrianisation and all flat roofs legally required to ‘be green’ (i.e. have soil or vegetation), a concept already adopted by others including France and Belgium.

The results are clear – clean air, happier residents and higher property values as a result of the higher quality landscape the homes are set in!

To paraphrase a famous phrase, Danish towns aren’t perfect…but they’re probably (among) the best in the world – I’d love to see the UK follow suit.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Heart Land Group Ltd .