Assistens Cemetery

Located in the Norrebro neighborhood of Copenhagen, this cemetery is the resting place of many famous Danes including Hans Christian Andersen and Niels Bohr. It is a popular walking spot, I visited on a Sunday in February and it was rather full of people. It sounds strange, but it is common to find sunbathers enjoying the open-space during the summer months. 

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

Visiting Exhibitions
Asger Jorn (Danish) /Jackson Pollock (American) - similar work, completely different ideas
Arab Contemporary - a look into modern culture, identity, architecture

The museum is 45 minutes north by train, and sited on a bluff overlooking the Øresund Sea. Visitors can explore the grounds and walk the park-like setting. The museum is a labyrinth of rooms, often underground. I have only seen one other museum so busy, and that was the Louvre on a summers day. Contemporary and modern art, two and three-dimensional, experienced outside and in. The sun was a nice touch. Thanks Copenhagen :)

Home to flowers

Best Valentine ever.  

Home Base

A day in the life... 

my lovely room!

Vesterbrogade - the main street by my place

Crossing the Knippelsbro bridge to school (Arne Jacobsen's National Bank Building prominent on the canal)

yet another beautiful canal on the walk to school!

Arriving at school - KADK

beautiful buildings repurposed from the Danish military

Public library on campus

Studio - Department 10

Cantine - open for breakfast and lunch 

Lovely lunch! weighed by the kilo, this is 30 krone = $5.50 US

Boat and Castle

Denmark's Maritime Museum by Bjarke Ingels Group - grand opening 2013

Diagram: Bridges spanning the dry dock which are connected to the museum's exhibits on the interior (also underground)

BIG model on exhibition

Walking the dry-dock

Auditorium on a bridge

Museum entrance - this is Denmark - kites, blonds, boats, perfection

Photographs of the building construction

Kronberg Castle, Helsingor - the oldest castle in the Nordic countries built in the 1420s by King Eric VII. It is located at the tip of Zealand Island and controlled the sea between Denmark and Sweden for hundreds of years, taxing every vessel to pass its waters. The castle was immortalized by William Shakespeare in the story of Hamlet, to be or not to be? That is the question.

Interior castle courtyard. Notice the missing fountain in the center? ya Sweden stole it.

King's dining chamber

Grand Hall

Carey, Jeff, Erica in the chapel

Built of brick and stone, clad in Sandstone during the Reniassance

These buildings are minutes from each other. They stand as ancient and contemporary examples of Danish Architecture and Design. It fascinating to see them juxtaposed against each other, both cultural attractions, and even offered together for a joint ticket price. The BIG museum is embracing the old dry-dock and showing off its rust and patina, while the castle is attempting to restore the facade and interior to its original appearance. It is amazing, the Kronberg Castle still exists because it is built of stone 3m thick walls. Is there any chance a contemporary building will survive 700 years? Slim, I would say. 

Strøget

Strøget marks the beginning of København’s urban design strategy: Taming and controlling traffic, and reclaiming car streets to create quality pedestrian space. In 1962, the city established its first pedestrian only street, hotly contested at the time. The newspapers claimed the street was contrary to Scandinavian mentality, “we are Danes, not Italians,” and merchants worried patronage would decrease. From the first day, the car-free street was a huge success, providing a lovely reprieve from the overcrowded traffic in the city center. Located in the city center, Strøget has always been a primary shopping street. Today you can find high-end department stores, as well as small local shops, cafes, and performers. The street is a popular tourist attraction, and during the summer months, the stork fountain is a great spot for people watching. 

View from the 32'-0" wide walking street

Stork fountain, nice plaza for people watching

Axonometric drawing showing the character of the buildings and typical use

Zoomed out - transit diagram

Another plaza at the entrance of Strøget (pronounced Stroll)

Day trip

When I first arrived, I stayed with Hans Peter and Merete, my Danish family I did not know I had! They are so wonderful, and I had a such a good time visiting with them.  On Saturday, we drove north to tour the small towns of Gilleleje and Helsingor which lay along the coast looking over the Öresund Sea. I am not sure how old the houses were, but walking on those streets was like stepping back in time. We had some hot chocolate for a break from the cold, and a delicious Danish hotdog for lunch!

Quaint and colorful walking streets

A nice place for some hot chocolate and cheese!

The lovely couple

Driving the coast... you can almost see Sweden

Scrumptious breakfast at Hans Peter and Merete's home in Frederiksberg! 

Cycling

On Monday afternoon, I officially became a cyclist in København! I purchased a used bike for 700 krone, got the lights and the bell (both required by law), and off I went. It seems that everyone bikes here, because it is flat and the roads are designed for cyclists. There is a level for cars, a level for the bikes, and a level for the pedestrians. There is room to pass, so everyone can ride at their own speed.  The bikes are durable, with an internal hub so the salt/snow/water does not effect the gears. My professor did a presentation on Copenhagen, and included some numbers: inner city population is 550,000, inner city bikes 650,000. More bikes than people! 

Parking at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts

Informal parking in front of the grocery store

Typical street in section

Green so I can find my bike!

Saturday afternoon, not too many in front of
my house now. Yes! Easy to find a spot!