Reconciling Christiania?

Holm, Laura Martine ; Krøis, Cecilie ; Ogonowski, Laura Borg

4. term

Urban Design, Master

2024

2024-05-30

This thesis explores how Christiania, a Freetown in Copenhagen, should develop follow- ing an agreement with the Danish state to build 15,000 sq m of public housing. In con- tinuation of this, this report presents a conceptual plan with strategic design measures that aim to guide this development, emphasizing robustness, elasticity, and democracy to accommodate societal and physical changes. Elasticity is ensured through a phased development plan, allowing adaptation to new knowledge and circumstances as the transformation progresses. A democratic approach fosters inclusiveness and transparency, supporting equality in urban development. The project advocates for informal, bottom-up planning approaches, enhancing community engagement through temporary experiments and social events. Involving citizens from the beginning of the development process and enabling flexible design solutions increas- es ownership, sense of belonging, and overall satisfaction with the area’s transformation, laying the foundation for a more successful result. By planning for unforeseen changes that inevitably occur in long-term projects, the core vision is more likely to remain resilient, thereby making the plan robust. ‘Reconciling Christiania’ offers a forward-thinking de- velopment plan that balances the strong socio-political views present in Christiania with the modern urban need for affordable housing within a densely populated city structure.

Christiania

Download
View record in AAU Student Projects