SUPERKILEN-URBAN INSERTION

CASE STUDY

ANISHA DEB(16)
AYESHA ROOSMIN(17)
 INTRODUCTION-SUPERKILEN
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Client: Copenhagen Municipality
• Architect: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group,
Topotek 1(&Superflex).
• Design: 2009-2010; Completed: 2012
• Size: 30,000 m2; cost $8,879,000
USD.
• Population-6.02 lakhs
• A rare fusion of architecture,
landscape architecture and art - from
early concept to construction stage.
• To actively involve the neighbor's –
and future users – of the park as
much as possible in the design
process. LOCATION MAP
• “An urban safari into the diversity of
the manmade forms of urban
furniture”-BIG.
Image Source- Google earth
 WHY IS IT AN INSERTION?
• Scattered miscellaneous street furniture
from 60 different nations across a
brightly colored carpet of grass and
rubber are installed at this park in
Copenhagen.
• Prior to its development the area was
almost dead and non functional also
there were safety issues, the
neighborhood was not safe hence this
project was formulated for the integrity
of the diverse neighborhood residing in
the surrounding.
• This project was mainly implemented to
develop that particular area for the
interest of the common people hence it
is an urban insert.
View of site
Image Source- https://www.archdaily.com/286223/superkilen-topotek-1-big-architects-superflex
SITE PLAN

• The750-metre-long scheme comprises three main

zones: a red square for sports; a green park as a
grassy children’s playground; and a black market as a
food market and picnic area.
• Stretches through the Nørrebro neighborhood in the
north of the city.
Image Source- https://www.archdaily.com/286223/superkilen-topotek-1-big-architects-superflex
 CHALLENGES
• Socially challenged neighbourhoods.
• Less of public activity spaces, Absence of playing and
workout areas
• Lack of transparent infrastructure
• Bike parking and traffic
• Absence of Green spaces
• Nørrebro is a neighbourhood plagued by crime
• Areas to the East and West of the park's location
were cut off from the rest of the city by two major
highways.

SITE PLAN IN 2006

Image Source- Google earth
 DESIGN SOLUTION
• The Project was a result of a design competition for urban
renewal of the area by the Municipality of Copenhagen,
and the Philanthropic Association Realdania.
• Mainly proposed to increase the security within the
neighborhood and to develop a sense of belonging to the
place.
• Superkilen is a park that supports diversity. It is a world
exhibition of furniture and everyday objects from all over
the world.
• Superkilen reattributes motifs from garden history.
Superkilen is a contemporary, urban version of a universal
garden.
• Three zones, three colors – one neighborhood
The conceptual starting point is a division of Superkilen
into three zones and colors – green, black and red.
• The desire for more nature is met through a significant
increase of vegetation and plants throughout the whole
neighborhood arranged as small islands of diverse tree
sorts.
• Most of local residents are from Islamic or Middle-Eastern
background but the design of Superkilen was not designed
only for them, it was designed with the input of them in
collaboration with the border communities.

Source-archdaily
 CONCEPT
• The main purpose of this project was to
create a diverse urban park within the
city and to develop a sense of
belongingness.
• The park takes the form a narrow
wedge stretching two important roads
in the neighborhood:
the Tagnesvej in the north and
the Norrebrogade in the south.
• The design uses the site to allow
better connectivity between these two
roads through pedestrian and biking
circulation.

Sourcwww.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-park-by-big-architects-topotek1-
superflex/
e-https://
 Bus stand and skating area

Source www.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-park-by-big-architects-topotek1-
superflex/
e-https://
 Mound

Source www.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-park-by-big-architects-
topotek1-superflex/
e-https://
Source www.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-park-by-big-architects-topotek1-
superflex/
e-https://
 RED SQUARE
• The Red Square serves as an extension of the
sports and cultural activities at the Norrebro
hall.
• Painted bright red, orange and pink, focuses
on recreation and modern living.
• The Red Square is directly connected to
Nørrebro’s busiest street, Nørrebrogade,
thus, it is Superkilen’s link to the city.
• Facades are incorporated visually by
RED SQUARE VIEW
following the color of the surface
conceptually folding upwards and hereby
creating a three-dimensional experience.
• creates the setting for an urban marketplace
which attracts visitors.
• The red square is defined by a street in each
end and building and fences along the sides.

Image Source- https://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/24/superkilen-park-by-big-topotek1-and-superflex/

 A B c

A
B

RED SQUARE PLAN c

• Towards East allows outdoor service from the café inside by the main entrance.
• Towards North, the visitors will enjoy basketball courts, parking spaces and an
outdoor fitness area.
• The edge is moving in and out - and so they have tied the area together by
connecting the surrounding by lines and edges in the big red pattern.
• Basketball is next to parking.
• A patchwork of pink rubber blankets the ground and covers the sides of buildings.

Image Source- https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1508854/colour-case-study-3

 BENCH RACKS
SECTION AA

• Planted maple trees with matching red leaves except the existing ones.
• Fitness area, Thai boxing, playground (slide from Chernobyl, Iraqi swings, Indian
climbing playground), Sound system from Jamaica, a stencil of Salvador Allende,
plenty of benches (from Brazil, classic UK cast Iron litter bins, Iran and Switzerland),
bike stands and a parking area.

SECTION BB CHILDREN PARK

Image Source- https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1508854/colour-case-study-3

 SECTION AT CC

VIEW OF RED SQUARE

• Image Source- https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1508854/colour-case-study-3
 VIEWS

View of red square Night view of red zone

Punching bags Kids play area

• Image Source- https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1508854/colour-case-study-3
 DESIGN ELEMENTS

Arabic bus stand sign Various cultural elements

Seating areas Benches

• Image Source- https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1508854/colour-case-study-3
 BLACK ZONE Red zone
• A bike path runs through the park as a means
of connecting each of the individual areas of
the park.
• This place is where the locals meet around the
Moroccan fountain, the Turkish bench, under
the Japanese cherry-trees as the extension of
the area’s patio
• Red maples, Japanese cherry trees, palm
trees from china and Lebanese cedar trees
have been planted to provide shade during
warmer summer months, as well as visual
interest with the range of different vegetation
represented.
• Unlike the pattern on the red square, the
white lines are all moving in straight lines
from north to south, curving around the
different furniture to avoid touching it. Here
the pattern is highlighting the furniture.
• The white lines on black asphalt curates the
movement of the people and highlights the
street furniture.

Black zone

Source- archdaily
 D E

F F

D E

SECTION AT DD
SECTION AT EE

SECTION AT FF
Source-archdaily
 GREEN PARK BASKETBALL COURT
• A number of sports facilities are in the Green Park,
including a hockey field with an integrated
basketball court.
• A green landscape and a playground where families
can meet for picnics and sunbathing but also a
place for hockey tournaments, badminton games
etc.
• The green park is on the top of the hill to the
south. From the top of the hill, the entire
superkilen park can be viewed.

Source www.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-
park-by-big-architects-topotek1-superflex/
e-https://
 G
H
J
J
G
H

SECTION AT GG
SECTION AT HH
SECTION AT JJ
 GREEN PARK

SWINGS

BASKETBALL COURT

Source www.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-park-by-big-architects-topotek1-superflex/
e-https://
 CRITICISM
• Shape of the park seems odd and irregular which may hamper the security.

• High maintenance costs and maintenance takes longer time.

• They portrayed the diversity of the community in the form of an urban exhibition.
A more indirect and harmonious approach would have been appreciated.
 REFERENCES
• https://arcspace.com/feature/superkilen/
• https://www.archdaily.com/286223/superkilen-topotek-1-big-architects-superflex
• https://www.designboom.com/architecture/superkilen-urban-park-by-big-
architects-topotek1-superflex/