While Copenhagen and Malmö appeared to lack in ecological integrity, they are far ahead in the accessibility and quality of urban public spaces. Like Kris and Julia, I was absolutely enchanted with the interconnectedness…no ugly chainlink fences and dusty dogs runs, no barriers to interactions between age groups, no interruptions to contend with along kilometers of waterfront. The lack of public waterfront space is one of my MAJOR gripes with the US. Though I love cities, I too feel claustrophobic in them here because there are no long ‘runs’ (like a dog I just want to go go go for kilometers and kilometers without having to deal with traffic, commercial assaults, etc…).The Burke Gilman is certainly better than nothing, but in many places it is nothing more than cobbled together right-of-ways that don’t really afford a peaceful journey. The flip side to having so much accessible nature around us (and often an extensive private yard) is perhaps an apathy to good urban public space, similar to the arguments against urban ecology in the 1980s - who needs extensive public waterfront access in the city when we can head to the hills, the sea, or use one of the many urban parks. I look forward to challenging this notion in studio, and finding synergy between ecological and social space. OH, and getting a sauna on the Sound!
Mary
Images of the wide-yonder of the Malmö waterfront.
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