What is really striking about Copenhagen is the overriding sense of quality and unity that pervades

Arriving in Copenhagen it was clear that as in England, Spring had not yet sprung, with snow on the ground and temperatures as low as -5. Still, a beautiful clear day provided excellent conditions for photographing the city s enchanting rental cars phoenix az mix of historic and contemporary townscape.
An early port of call was the Black Diamond, the waterfront national rental cars phoenix az public library. This new building, designed by Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Larsson, is monumental in scale and uncompromising rental cars phoenix az in style, despite its setting in the context of historic waterfront buildings. This is typical of the architecture of Copenhagen of all ages; the buildings show a single minded belief in the architecture of their time, and the city is all the richer for it. The Black Diamond is one of a number of public buildings that have been completed in the last 15 years, including Henning Larsen s Opera House of 2005 and the spectacular Royal Danish Playhouse by Lundgaard and Tranberg of 2008 which maximises its waterfront setting magnificently.
Modern waterfront development is a characteristic rental cars phoenix az feature of the city, providing an extension to the historic core. Located opposite the Black Diamond is series of unashamedly repetitive contemporary commercial buildings with views through to a historic spire, one of many that are visible across Copenhagen's skyline, punctuating an otherwise moderate scale environment of between 4-7 storeys.
A notable exception to the scale rule is Arne Jacobsen s Radisson Blu Hotel of 1960, a 20 storey vision of Modernism near Tivoli Gardens, rental cars phoenix az the city s foremost visitor attraction. It is considered the world s first design hotel: in addition to the building itself, Jacobsen designed every element of the interior including cutlery considered rental cars phoenix az so striking, it was used in Stanley Kubrick s 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is constructed in shades of green throughout which catch the light beautifully. Being the city s only skyscraper, it also provides an aid for orientation; particularly useful when your own hotel is located nearby!
What is really striking rental cars phoenix az about Copenhagen is the overriding sense of quality and unity that pervades all areas of the city. An enormously significant feature of this is the treatment of the public realm. High quality, durable materials within a limited colour palette rental cars phoenix az (no magic carpets here!) are used throughout, with variations in design, scale and materials relative to their location.
Compared with many European cities, Copenhagen is relatively small and easy to navigate on foot or by bicycle. There is a strong sense of pedestrian and cyclist priority which has encouraged many to commute by bike: indeed rush hour appears busier in the cycle lane than for cars! Cycle lanes are separated from the main carriageway, often by a level change, giving them the safety of a pavement together with segregation from pedestrians. A trip to Denmark s national museum established that cycling has long been a feature of Danish life. Cargo bikes transporting everything from pizzas to dogs are common and commuter cyclists were witnessed multi-tasking in heels and a fur coat, something unimaginable in the UK!
Of particular interest to urban designers is a major regeneration scheme that is underway at the former Carlsberg Brewery in Valby, vacated when the brewing giants moved production 200km west to Frederica. The 33ha site is proposed to include up to 3000 new low carbon homes, together with new shops, cafes and leisure facilities, utilising the existing historic rental cars phoenix az environment as a foundation. The plans are testament to the forward thinking and people focused nature of the Danish planning system and development industry, which is visible throughout this wonderful city.