URBAN DESIGN

P U B L I C
S Q U A R E S

ISRAEL’S
P L A D S
SQUARE

Presentation by
Haleema Atique
Ahla Irfan
Mubeen Ahmed
Zarmeen Jabbar
 An Amorphous Square

 Amorphous square is formless, unorganized and

have no specific shape.
 It does not represent aesthetic qualities or artistic
possibilities as compared to other types of squares.
 In sub-continent, public squares are not as such
designed for specific purposes, rather they evolved
out as a result of movement patterns in activity
zones. Manek Chowk, Ahmedabad
 As compared to other squares, amorphous
squares are pretty eminent. Cross roads or
junctions act as amorphous public places.
 Amorphous squares developed as a result of un-
thought organic planning, while some are pre-
thought and properly designed, like the chowks of
Jaipur, pols of Gujrat etc

Badi Chowk, Jaipur

 Israel Plads, Denmark

• Israel Plads is a large public square in

central Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the area
between Nørreport station and The Lakes.
• Its north end is home to a covered food market while
the south end is currently subject to a comprehensive
redesign which will integrate it with the
adjoining Ørsted Park.

• Out of the three space confining • There is a consideration of

elements, the skyline is a strong human scale as compared to
factor in deciding whether the space the surrounding but the
is amorphous. overall façade of apartment
• Israel Plads is surrounding by buildings is monotonous,
apartment buildings in two sides and while at the park side, it is
the south side is park while the north completely heterogeneous
side is the entrance side in the and organic.
square.
 Historical context

 The history of Israel’s Plads (Israel’s

Square) reflects the history of
Copenhagen’s transformation
.
 This central plaza was once where
the city ended in a ring of protective
fortifications.

 As the city gradually extended, the

plaza became a vibrant market City fortifications 1200–1857
square – until the 1950’s, when it
was turned into a lifeless car park.

 The new plaza, built in 2014, is

elevated above the existing street
level - it hovers over the many cars
that used to dominate Israel’s Plads,
which are now placed in the Parking 1950s–1990s
underground car park.
.

Market square 1889–1954

 BACKGROUND THE GREENGROCER’S MARKET
 The square is located in the area which was released after
 A vegetable market opened at Vendersgade on 26 April
Copenhagen's Fortifications were decommissioned in the second
1889.
half of the 19th century.
 The northern part of today's Israels Plads, was
 Until then the area had remained largely undeveloped due to the
originally not part of Grønttorvet. It had a fountain and
enforcement of a no-built zone outside the city walls.
was known as dog square (Hundetorvet), presumably
 The site (previously called Grønttorvet) was named on November
because it was popular with people walking their dog.
11, 1968 to mark the 25th anniversary of the rescue of the Danish
 In 1913, the space was incorporated into the market
Jews.
area.
 An operation to transport the Jewish Danes from Nazi-occupied
Denmark to free Sweden.
 ELEMENTS

An Urban Carpet

The surface of the plaza is elevated above the existing streets,

like an urban carpet. It hovers over the many cars that once

dominated Israels Plads, and which are now placed

underground. The cars are literally swept under the carpet.

 S T R E E T F U R N I T U R E

B E N C H E S I N S TA L L AT I O N S
Round holes in the square, which Different organic shapes are
are filled with grass and trees and punched out of the granite surface,
surrounded by benches thus providing various sports facilities,
creating green, urban hangout spots such as a ball cage, a skating area,
areas, which invite the citizens to a playground for young children and
several activities: ballgames, sitting stairs.
skating, and playing.

S T A I R S P A V E M E N T
Stairs in the corners which can be used
as an observation post from where you The black rubber surface is made
can see the activities on the square, the from recycled rubber soles from
pulsating life of the Market place, and the Nike tennis shoes.
beautiful green areas of H.C. Ørsteds
Park.

L I G H T S
Along the facades, a band of
At night, a different atmosphere is
traditional Copenhagen pavement
evoked. Lighting is adjustable
with granite slabs and Nordic
according to the requirements of the
cobblestones runs around the
users. LED lighting lines the edges of
square, connecting the granite plate
the square, and the punched holes
to its surroundings.
are accentuated by strip
lighting, giving a sensation that the
whole square is floating.
 W AT E R B O D I E S
GRE E NSPACE S AND SCULPTURAL
C H A R A C T E R
-Accentuating greenery: Circles
have been cut out for that. -The plaza has a sculptural
expression that refers to its
-The square extends over the park historical past as part of the
but without touching anything. fortifications.
Since, it hovers over greenery.

-Handles storm water in case of

-Transition between two worlds: extreme weather events. From the

The city and the neighboring park creek, the water is led to the large
water reserve as it moves

-Organic pattern of trees: The downwards as a waterfall in the

Landscape character of park park. During all other times the

continues in the plaza creek is an aesthetic water feature.

This is a good example of
combining functionality with
aesthetics.

-
References

• URBAN DESIGN: STREET AND SQUARE Third Edition

by Cliff Moughtin
• https://www.cobe.dk/place/israels-plads
• http://www.hovedstadshistorie.dk/oestervold/israels-plads/
• https://www.archdaily.com/880388/israels-plads-square-
cobe
• https://www.polytan.com/references/israels-plads/
• https://www.toposmagazine.com/israels-plads/

Thank you