Amager Fælled Schoolyard
"The Forest"
Say goodbye to the grey asphalt of a typical playground and say hello to humming birds in the trees, and the sensation of a green forest floor under foot. That is the situation at Amager Fælled Skole, a school in the city’s south that houses 550 pupils.
The project provides an innovative answer to what is considered one of Copenhagen’s biggest challenges – namely how to optimize the limited outdoor areas of the city. Amager Fælled Skole offers citizens a new relationship to nature by reducing the barrier between city and school. The result is a unique outdoor area that mutually engages the local residents and students alike.
The project was inspired by an existing and popular overgrown green area at the school, affectionately known by the students as ‘The Forest’. The students loved to play in the area, which aligned with the school’s wishes for a centralized green meeting place within the schoolyard. The creation of a ‘Forest School’ emerged naturally, providing the scheme with great potentials.
The edge is created by a low wall of varied materials, coatings, textures and wooden benches. Small forecourts clearly mark entries from the footpath to school. The wall is also composed of various niches, terraces and rest points that enable the entire boundary to be used as a continuous parkour course. All of the permanent functions such as ball sports and play equipment are integrated into the edge, inviting pedestrians and local residents to enjoy the new facilities. The result is a fluid transition between pavement and schoolyard.
The forest areas are created by nine islands that offer contrasting experiences; through the planting of different trees, bushes and flowers. Students are able to explore and play inside or around the islands, where functions and in turn ground surfacing will change. To ensure the atmosphere of a forest is captured, mature trees will be planted from ground breaking. The school will also include a LAR project that will be used to collect rainwater and secure the area from flooding in the years to come.
Say goodbye to the grey asphalt of a typical playground and
say hello to humming birds in the trees, and the sensation of
a green forest floor under foot
Location
Client
Year
Typology
Construction costs
Size
Collaborators
Status
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen Municipality
2013-2016
Landscape, schoolyard
13 mill DKK
10.600 m2 surface area
Thing Brandt Landskab
Built
The project also includes a system to collect rainwater and secure the area from flooding in the years to come.
