Today, most of the historic inner city consists of private and closed courtyards. What would happen if we open these courtyards? What would happen if these courtyards were made publicly accessible? What would happen when these courtyards become a part of the urban space? It will enlarge the city without expanding it. It will open up the possibility of rethinking and developing the city without comprimising its historic character. It will create more public spaces in the inner city that makes it more intensively used and (potentially) more sustainable.

Past, present and future
Making the courtyards public accessible does not only introduce a potential but also reveal a part of the city’s unnoticed history. In the past, the courtyards were used for small factories, shops and other semi-public facilities. But in the post-war period, growing demand and need for improved sanitary and living conditions, led to a redevelopment of the inner city, which transformed the once public areas into enclosed private courtyards.

During the Copenhagen Design Week, we invited viewers onto a journey through these private courtyards where we presented a part of the city’s hidden past, as well as, its potential future. An invitation to take part in rediscovering and reinventing the city. A route was marked to be spotted by the curious turist or citizen. Several highlights were picked on the tour and featured box with a peephole containing a manipulated overlay to the existing view exhibiting our visions upon the future city.

The Parallel City was a part of the exhibition Link UP Showcase 2009 which is exhibited during the Copenhagen Design Week from august 27th until september 6th.

With
USUS
Anne Sabine Kjærulf
JAJA Architects