이스라엘 광장은 두개의 세계 사이에 위치한다. 매일 수천명이 왕래하는 활기찬 시장과 풍부한 자연환경을 제공하는 도심공원 사이에 위치한다. 역사적인 성곽에 위치한 장소성과 도심 중심부에 자리한 입지적인 특성에서 기인, 70년대 이를 복원하는 재건 프로젝트에 따라 유럽내에 거대한 도심형 지하 공용주자창 사업의 일부분으로 함께 조성되었다. 이후, 08년 코펜하겐시는 다시 변화하는 도심생활에 발맞춰 지역주민들의 문화활동 및 다양한 야외활동 증진을 목표로 지금의 공간을 조성하였다.
이에 따라 일부 주차장 시설은 철거되고, Sweco 건축가가 설계한 '플라이 카펫'광장이 H.C. Ørsteds공원과 함께 주변 및 도심을 연결하는 노드 포인트로 구축된다. '플라이 카펫'의 별명은 지면으로 부터 30cm 떠 있는 듯한 부드러운 소재로 구성된 광장 디자인에서 연유한다.
광장의 남서측과 북동측 각 날개의 모서리는 말려 올라가며 방문객들을 위한 좌석과 지하 주차장으로 내려가는 램프의 지붕으로 디자인된다. 광장 날개의 반대편 표면은 자연스럽게 남서측으로 기울어지며 H.C. Ørsteds공원과 연속된 장면을 연출한다. 여기에 광장을 가로지르는 작은 개울이 더해져, 계단 끝에 3단으로 이루어진 낙수공간을 생성한다.
이곳을 찾는 모든이에게 열린공간과 다양한 활동지원을 위해 광장은 다음과 같은 조건을 만족시킨다.
잔디와 나무로 이루어진 광장라운드 홀, 그리고 주변부에 자리한 벤치는 그린공간과 모임을 위한 다양한 활동지원을 위한 공간으로 볼게임, 스케이팅, 플레이(놀이)를 제공한다. 코너에 자리한 계단은 광장 내 다양한 활동과 시장의 활기 넘치는 풍경 그리고 H.C. Ørsteds공원의 풍부한 자연환경을 감상하는 전망대로 활용된다. 이를 통해 광장은 모든 시민과 관광객들의 도심생활(코펜하겐 생활)을 경험하게 하는 장소로 제공된다.
reviewed by SJ,오사
The location of Israel Square is rich in opportunities and stretches between two worlds: the bustling covered market where thousands of people pass every day and the lush H.C. Ørsteds Park, where the people of Copenhagen enjoy the green space in the middle of the city. Israel’s Square is placed on top of the historic ramparts, which used to surround the city of Copenhagen, and was in the 1970’s rebuilt into a parking lot with Northern Europe’s largest underground parking garage. This identity did not involve any aesthetics or invitation to activity – but it was about to change.
In 2008 the City Council in Copenhagen agreed on a major renovation of the square in order to establish an open space that would unfold, open up and encourage the citizens of Copenhagen to engage in outdoor life and activities on a site where the only boundaries of engagement are those of the mind. The car park is gone and Sweco Architects have created a ‘flying carpet’ square that now interconnects with H.C. Ørsteds Park and enhances the coherence between the square and its surroundings. The ‘flying carpet’ nickname comes from the folded and soft waved surface floating 30 cm above the ground.
The new Israel’s Square
The square has wings, as the southwest and northeast corners fold up
and create sitting areas whilst covering the ramp from the underground
parking garage. As opposed to the wings of the square, the surface runs
downward as a waterfall in the southwest corner into H.C. Ørsteds Park
and thereby blends with the trees that stretch into the square. Across
the square, water trickles in a small creek, which continues into H.C.
Ørsteds Park, where it ends in stairs created of three oval vessels
completing the waterfall.
Depending on the purpose, the light of the pylons on the square can be
changed from a dimmed, scattered light to one focused on specific areas
during events. Along the edge of the square, small LED-lights are
installed to give the illusion of a flying carpet and a hovering
surface.
To create a space, that invites everyone, different features have been created on the surface of the square:
• Round holes in the square, which are filled with grass and trees and
surrounded by benches thus creating green, urban hangout spots
• Areas, which invite the citizens to several activities: ballgames, skating, and playing.
• Stairs in the corners which can be used as an observation post from
where you can see the activities on the square, the pulsating life of
the Market place, and the beautiful green areas of H.C. Ørsteds Park.
In this way, Israel Square has been designed to be a square for every citizen and visitor to explore urban life.
The special connection of the square to H.C. Ørsteds Park
Sweco Architects and subcontractor COBE have worked intensively on the transition from the square to H.C. Ørsteds Park. The square extends approximately seven meters over the park, but without touching anything since it “hovers” over the greenery. Instead of cutting down the existing trees, the holes in the square have been designed to integrate the trees into the square. These trees, together with a number of newly planted trees, make the park seem to continue into the square creating a gentle transition. Access between the square and the park is via a spiral staircase, which widens as it nears the ground in H.C. Ørsteds Park.
The challenges in the process
NIRAS was involved in all engineering disciplines in the full process
from idea competition to the transformation of Israel Square into a
coherent urban space. The project included several engineering
challenges:
• The interaction between the square and H.C. Ørsteds Park needed to be built without damaging the existing trees.
• The square was built on top of a parking garage that could only
tolerate a certain load. This led to limited space for drainage pipes,
etc.. Furthermore, access to the parking garage had to be possible
throughout the construction.
• During the construction phase, building activities on Nørreport Station required increased planning logistics.
• Zahle’s School is located within the project area. Therefore, school
traffic crossed the area during completion. The schoolyard is now a part
of the square itself.
Israel Square – a positive urban area
Morten Kabell (Red-Green Alliance Party), Mayor for Technology and Environment in the City of Copenhagen, believes that the square will help enhance the quality of life and sense of community in Copenhagen. “Nine out of ten Copenhagen residents want a vibrant, diverse, urban lifestyle. The new place adds to this. It’s wonderful that we are creating room for playing and hanging out right in the center of the city as an alternative to the outdoor cafés and commercial activities that characterize the city center. Here it doesn’t cost you a penny to have fun,” he said in an interview with the national daily, Politiken.
Landscape Architecture: sweco
from landezine