The History of Urban Green Spaces in Copenhagen

There were various green spaces that were implemented within the city of Copenhagen in the 19th century, and all of them now contribute largely to the appeal of this multi-dimensional Scandinavian city. With green spaces being a very fundamental aspect to the city of Copenhagen from early on, the city has incorporated many green spaces of parks and gardens throughout it’s boundaries, making urban living very readily available, and very possible.

Ørstedparken is one of 3 parks that was created on the large plot of land that was once part of the old fortification ring that protected Copenhagen up until 1850s, but was given back to city 1868. Construction of this park began in 1876, with Henrik August Flindt as the designer. This park was designed as a promenade park, and notoriously involved Copenhagen's first public playground, largely introducing a very relevant aspect to 21st century urban parks. This park still has much of it’s original character, as many of the old fortifications have been preserved in the landscaping of the park such as the old moat which now serves as a lake, running the length of the whole park. The park has a variety of trees across the vast landscape that were imported from all over, and has a section of flower garden that blooms a variety of beautiful colors. This park is now very beneficial to Copenhagen in a variety of ways, including being one of the few green spaces with a large water feature, such as this lake, in the center.

(Ørstedsparken)

The Rosenborg Castle Gardens is the oldest of all park spaces in Copenhagen, and started off as a Renaissance style garden in the early 1600s. It delivered both pleasure and purpose to the royal household of King Christian IV, being both a pleasure garden and a productive garden of fruits, vegetables and flowers. A pavilion stood on the north- west section of the garden’s land at the time, but was largely expanded and is now the Rosenborg Castle that stands on the property. 

Once garden styles changed, the garden was redesigned into a Baroque garden. A complex system of paths, typical of Baroque style, was incorporated into the garden, all leading to a central space. All of these features still exist in the garden, as the current Rosenborg, of King’s Gardens, is still covered with large paths that lead to a central feature, with useful green spaces in between. Today there are still two diagonal lime tree walkways that intersect at about the center of the park/garden, and the rest of the paths are laid out in a grid fashion. While the lime-tree lined walkways were incorporated into the baroque renovations, the other network of paths can be traced back to the original garden plan. This garden is now the most visited park in Copenhagen, allowing a beautiful space for people to come relax or take a walk through in the center of Copenhagen. 

(North- west section of garden--Rosenborg Castle that was once the small pavilion)

(Lime-tree lined walkways)

(Lawns in between the paths)

Brown, Kent, and Bridgeman

      The work of ‘Capability’ Brown was the most influential of most people of garden design today. From the eighteenth century, this English landscape architect has designed over 170 parks during his time and his influence was very powerful. His style involved smooth, cleanly kept grass running right up to the house was a good example of his more informal style. A scattering of trees and greenery, among large ponds and small lakes strewn throughout the landscape were also a new staple to his style. Coming out of a time where formal gardens with embroidery like patterns of green were the must have, ‘Capability” Brown introduced the more informal ‘gardenless’ type of gardening and landscape, where it looked much more natural and vast. Brown was such a mastermind behind this new style, and it took off into the future as a new form of landscape design.

William Kent, another originator of the English Landscape garden, also followed the more naturalistic side of gardening. His natural style was incorporated into gardens and estates. While Kent came before brown, he initiated the movement of the naturalistic approach for Brown. His greatest achievement is that of the Chiswick House in Stowe and is one of the earliest examples of English Landscape gardening. Incorporating vast greenery, paths, water features, and many trees. Kent also believed in the informal garden, where nature was ruled by God and not man.

Charles Bridgeman was in fact the first of all gardeners of the natural landscape design, and came before both Kent and Brown. He stood at the forefront of the transitions from formal, patterned landscapes, into informal English Landscape garden design. While Bridgeman was still in some ways influenced by the previous formality of straight lines and hedges, he began to incorporate the idea of a more wild scenery scattered about. By bringing in vast lawns, statues, winding paths, wooded areas, and garden buildings among the more formal features kept in the garden design, Bridgeman was both formal and informal in his innovative actions. However, he did pave the way for the future of English Landscape Design and gardening.