The Strandlodsvej Case - A study of public life in a newly built neighborhood of Copenhagen

This master thesis examines how a newly built neighborhood in Copenhagen is able to accommodate public life. This study is done as critics have highlighted how newly built neighborhoods in Copenhagen often lack opportunities for people to engage with public life. In order to bring new insights, the thesis particularly looks at public life through the users’ experience and use of a neighborhood’s public spaces, and how these perceptions and understandings affect public life.This is done through the case study of Strandlodsvej, a newly built neighborhood located in Amager Northeast. With an empirical approach, through interviews, as well as observations and spatial analysis, this study highlights that public life in newly built neighborhoods can be accommodated due to some physical aspects of the neighborhood, its users and them relating to one another, as well as existing and new practices. In turn, the insights stemming from the Strandlodsvej case shows how the users’ experience and perception of the urban fabric, the planned mobility, and the diversity in people affects how users engage with and relate to public life. Furthermore, this paper shows how users are and are not able to engage with the neighborhood and its opportunities through their meanings and interpretation, as well as how some users engage in initiatives, appropriations and alterations, and how these aspects affect public life.This paper generates new insights in how a newly built neighborhood of Copenhagen is used and experienced by different users and how that affects the ability of the neighborhood to accommodate public life. Therefore, this research serves scholars, researchers, and others interested in current trends focusing on urban development procedures, and how such developments can better support the accommodation of public life. Also, the paper contributes to professionals interested in better addressing users when developing public opportunities within the city.