Today we explored several suburban gardens located outside of the city of Copenhagen. These suburban greenspaces were multi purposed, acting as a means of promoting personal individuality, while at the same time, placing membership into socio-cultural co-operative. In terms of promoting individuality, suburban gardens allow individuals to express their personality, through the layout and design of their landscapes. They have the freedom to be creative through the use of their garden space, in a setting that is extremely intimate and detached. As seen during our visit to the garden owned by the Royal Danish Horticulture Society, the space was very private and cut off from the neighboring properties by a hedge that surrounded the fence line.
From our tour through Fredensborg and Naerur, we were able to experience greenspaces that promoted a sense of community, while remaining private spaces for the residents. In Fredensborg, the layout and architecture designed by Jorn Utzon, a famed Danish architect most known for The Sydney Opera House, allowed for residents to feel that they owned their own personal space, while remaining in a social community setting. Each house was designed with a courtyard where each resident is given creative freedom to do whatever they pleased with the space. This is important, as the structure of the buildings and interior architecture are not permitted to be altered in any way. Erik, a retired engineer who spent 40 years of his career abroad, explained to us that each resident must eat 12 meals a month in the communal dining hall. This requirement promotes the integration of the individuals, while establishing a strong community.
In Naerur we were introduced to Sonja, the daughter of landscape architect C Th Sorenson. This unique space was designed to instill as sense of collectiveness through the similar plots of land that were separated by hedges. Although they acted as private gardens, neighbors would still be able to catch glimpses of other peoples gardens, and share their creative space with others. The open nature of the architecture contrasted with the privacy of the Royal Danish Horticulture Society's Kolonihave we visited in Fredriksberg.
I think that in many ways Sørensen's design in and of itself had a psychological impact. The very form of the gardens (the various height hedges were part of the design) and their arrangement enables the expression of the very Danish characteristics of community and co-operative action. I wonder if a non-Danish designer would have captured that essence?
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