Summary
The Tove Ditlevsens Plads project in Copenhagen reconfigures a triangular urban block into a shared civic landscape that combines educational, recreational, and neighbourhood functions. Developed as part of the Områdefornyelsen Centrale Vesterbro urban renewal programme, the intervention expands the outdoor space of Tove Ditlevsens School while connecting it to the surrounding city.
The design establishes a dialogue between school and public space, organising zones for play, movement, transit, and social interaction. Features such as trampolines, skate elements, and green areas encourage active and recreational use, while traffic calming improves safety and environmental conditions.
The development process was based on participatory and iterative co design, involving workshops, collaborative working groups and on site prototyping. Students actively contributed to spatial decisions and tested design solutions during the planning phase. The resulting space supports diverse activities, from informal play to community events, reflecting a child friendly and inclusive urban approach
Key aspects
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School–city integration through spatial design
Reconfigures the square as a shared environment, dissolving boundaries between school and public space. -
Participatory and iterative co design
Engages students, residents, and local actors through workshops and prototyping, embedding user input in design decisions. -
Multifunctional, child friendly landscape
Combines play, movement, and social areas, supporting diverse intergenerational everyday uses. -
Mobility calming and environmental improvement
Reduces traffic and introduces green elements, enhancing safety, comfort, and outdoor activity.