These years a bouquet of ex – industrial sites are re-developed into contemporary residential districts in Copenhagen. On this tour we will focus on two of these districts: the transformation of the former brewery area of Carlsberg as well as the old railway district nextdoor.
We start the guided bike tour in Carlsberg City – the old brewery area, which dates back to 1847. Carlsberg moved their production from this historic site in Copenhagen to Jutland in 2008: This posed the question: what should be done with the valuable district just 2 K from downtown Copenhagen?
Most of the old, iconic factory buildings have been kept and transformed into a hotel and apartments amongst others, some have been demolished and contemporary architecture has occurred next to a handful of new plazas, climate adaptation sites and much more.
On our way through the historic site we will of course also show you the Elephant Tower, an old entry gate held aloft by four life size elephants sculpted out of granite – and tell you the story behind it.
From Carlsberg City we move on to The Railway District, which former function was an industrial production facility for the Danish national rail company DSB. These years the old district is turned into a contemporary urban neighborhood. Filled with contrasts and with creativity e.g. an innovative insect farm and wooden dorms for students – plus 7 prototypes showcasing healthy low carbon homes – side by side with historical industrial buildings and train tracks.
In the future the plan is that they will be located next to green urban spaces, housing, institutions, shops, eateries, communal facilities, and cultural offerings. And we end the tour at one of Copenhagen’s most trendy bakeries, which already opened here…
