The architects worked alongside landscape architects Topotek1 and artists Superflex on the design of the Superkilen park, which stretches 750 metres through the Nørrebro neighbourhood in the north of the city.

Neon signs from Russia and Qatar, picnic benches from Armenia and ping-pong tables from Spain are just some of the different objects in the park, which are meant to represent the nationalities of every local resident.

“Rather than plastering the urban area with Danish designs we decided to gather the local intelligence and global experience to create a display of global urban best practice comprising the best that each of the 60 different cultures and countries have to offer when it comes to urban furniture,” said BIG project leader Nanna Gyldholm Møller.

The park is split into three colour-coded zones and different objects can be found in each one.

A patchwork of pink rubber blankets the ground and covers the sides of buildings in the first zone, and the designers have planted maple trees with matching red leaves.

The local market is held here, beside benches from Brazil, cast iron litter bins from the UK and a Thai boxing ring. There’s also a children’s playground, containing a slide from Chernobyl, a climbing frame from India and a set of swings from Iraq.

Above: photograph is by Torben Eskerod

The second zone is conceived as an “urban living room” where locals play board games beneath the shelter of Japanese cherry trees and Liberian Lebanese cedar trees.

Painted white lines run north to south across the ground but curve around the outside of the street furniture, which includes Belgian benches, Brazilian bar chairs, a Norwegian bike rack and a Moroccan fountain.

Above: photograph is by Torben Eskerod

Grass plains and hills comprise the third zone, which contains areas for sports, sunbathing and picnics.

A Texan pavilion provides a venue for line-dancing, while a sports arena accommodates football and basketball.

“Rather than perpetuating a perception of Denmark as a mono-ethnic people, the park portrays a true sample of the cultural diversity of contemporary Copenhagen,” said Topotek1′s Martin-Rein Cano.

See the initial designs for Superkilen in our earlier story.

Other landscape architecture on Dezeen includes an undulating public square in Mexico and a plaza in Austria.

Photography is by Iwan Bann, apart from where otherwise stated.

Above: photograph is by Torben Eskerod

Here’s a detailed project description from BIG:

Superkilen Masterplan

Superkilen is a half a mile long urban space wedging through one of the most ethnically diverse and socially challenged neighborhoods in Denmark. It has one overarching idea that it is conceived as a giant exhibition of urban best practice – a sort of collection of global found objects that come from 60 different nationalities of the people inhabiting the area surrounding it. Ranging from exercise gear from muscle beach LA to sewage drains from Israel, palm trees from China and neon signs from Qatar and Russia. Each object is accompanied by a small stainless plate inlaid in the ground describing the object, what it is and where it is from – in Danish and in the language(s) of its origin. A sort of surrealist collection of global urban diversity that in fact reflects the true nature of the local neighborhood – rather than perpetuating a petrified image of homogenous Denmark.

Superkilen is the result of the creative collaboration between BIG, Topotek1 and SUPERFLEX, which constitutes a rare fusion of architecture, landscape architecture and art – from early concept to construction stage.

Above: photograph is by Torben Eskerod

A World Exhibition at Nørrebro

Superkilen is a park that supports diversity. It is a world exhibition of furniture and everyday objects from all over the world, including benches, lampposts, trash cans and plants – requisites that every contemporary park should include and that the future visitors of the park have helped to select. Superkilen reattributes motifs from garden history. In the garden, the translocation of an ideal, the reproduction of another place, such as a far off landscape, is a common theme through time. As the Chinese reference the mountain ranges with the miniature rocks, the Japanese the ocean with their rippled gravel, or how the Greek ruins are showcased as replicas in the English gardens. Superkilen is a contemporary, urban version of a universal garden.

Above: photograph is by Torben Eskerod

Three Zones, Three Colors – One Neighborhood

The conceptual starting point is a division of Superkilen into three zones and colors – green, black and red. The different surfaces and colors are integrated to form new, dynamic surroundings for the everyday objects.

The desire for more nature is met through a significant increase of vegetation and plants throughout the whole neighborhood arranged as small islands of diverse tree sorts, blossom periods, colors – and origin matching the one of surrounding everyday objects.

Traffic Connections

To create better and more transparent infrastructure throughout the neighborhood, the current bike paths will be reorganized, new connections linking to the surrounding neighborhoods are created, with emphasis on the connection to Mimersgade, where citizens have expressed desire for a bus passage. This transition concerns the whole traffic in the area at outer Norrebro and is a part of a greater infrastructure plan. Alternatives to the bus passage include signals, an extended middle lane or speed bumps.

Market/Culture/Sport – The Red Square

As an extension of the sports and cultural activities at the Norrebrohall, the Red Square is conceived as an urban extension of the internal life of the hall. A range of recreational offers and the large central square allows the local residents to meet each other through physical activity and games.

The colored surface is integrated both in terms of colors and material with the Nørrebrohall and its new main entrance, where the surface merges inside and outside in the new foyer.

Facades are incorporated visually in the project by following the color of the surface conceptually folding upwards and hereby creating a three-dimensional experience. By the large facade towards Norrebrogade is an elevated open space, which almost like a tribune enables the visitors to enjoy the afternoon sun with a view.

In addition to the cultural and sports facilities, the Red Square creates the setting for an urban marketplace which attracts visitors every weekend from Copenhagen and the suburbs.

Superkilen’s central marketplace is located in the area of the existing hockey field. A large area on the square is covered by a multifunctional rubber surface to enable ballgames, markets, parades, and skating rinks in winter etc. The mobile tribunes of Norrebrohallen can be moved there for open-air movie/sports presentations. The square towards East allows outdoor service from the café inside by the future main entrance. Towards North, the visitors will enjoy basketball courts, parking spaces and an outdoor fitness area.

» The red square is defined by a street in each end and building and fences along the sides. The edge is moving in and out – and we have tied the area together by connecting the surrounding given lines and edges in the big red pattern. A big red carped stretched out between all sides of the square.
» Fitness area, Thai boxing, playground (slide from Chernobyl, Iraqi swings, Indian climbing playground), Sound system from Jamaica, a stencil of Salvador Allende, plenty of benches (from Brazil, classic UK cast Iron litter bins, Iran and Switzerland), bike stands and a parking area.
» Only red trees except the existing ones.
» Basket ball next to parking.

Urban Living Room – The Black Square

Mimers Plads is the heart of the Superkilen Masterplan. This is where the locals meet around the Moroccan fountain, the Turkish bench, under the Japanese cherry-trees as the extension of the area’s patio. In weekdays, permanent tables, benches and grill facilities serve as an urban living room for backgammon, chess players etc.

The bike traffic is moved to the East side of the Square by partly solving the problem of height differences towards Midgaardsgade and enable a bike ramp between Hotherplads and the intersecting bike path connection. Towards North is a hill facing south with a view to the square and its activity.

» The square can be spotted by the big, dentist neon sign from Doha, Qatar.
» Brazilian bar chairs under the Chinese palm trees, Japanese octopus playground next to the long row of Bulgarian picnic tables and Argentinean BBQ’s, Belgian benches around the cherry trees, UV (black light) light highlighting all white from the American shower lamp, Norwegian bike rack with a bike pump, Liberian cedar trees.
» To protect from the street ending at the north east corner of the square and to meet the wishes from the neighbors, we have folded up a corner of the square creating a covered space.
» Unlike the pattern on the red square, the white lines on Mimers Plads are all moving in straight lines from north to south, curving around the different furniture to avoid touching it. Here the pattern is highlighting the furniture instead of just being a caped under it.

Sport/Play – The Green Park

Bauman once said that “sport is one of the few institutions in society, where people can still agree on the rules”. No matter where you’re from, what you believe in and which language you speak, you can always play football together. This is why a number of sports facilities are moved to the Green Park, including the existing hockey field with an integrated basketball court as it will create a natural gathering spot for local young people from Mjolnerpark and the adjacent school.

The activities of the Green Park with its soft hills and surfaces appeals to children, young people and families. A green landscape and a playground where families with children can meet for picnics, sunbathing and breaks in the grass, but also hockey tournaments, badminton games and workout between the hills.

» The neighbors asked for more green so we ended up making the green park completely green – not only keeping and exaggerating the curvy landscape, but also painting all bike- and pedestrian paths green.
» From Tagensvej at the very north, the park is welcoming with a big rotating neon sign from USA, a big Italian chandelier and a black Osborne Bull from Costa del Sol (a wish from a Danish couple living in the area!).
» Armenian picnic tables next to Mjølnerparken with South African BBQ’s, a volcano shapes sports arena for basket ball and football, a line dance pavilion from Texas, muscle beach from LA with a high swing from Kabul, Spanish ping pong tables and a pavilion for the kids to hang out in.

The green park is turning into Mimers Plads on the top of the hill to the south. From the top of the hill you can almost overlook the entire Superkilen.

Site plan – click above for larger image

Facts

Client: Copenhagen Municipality, Realdania
Location: Nørrebro, Copenhagen / from Norrebrogade to Tagensvej
Function: Public space
Site area: 30.000 m2 / 322917 sq.ft / 750 m long public space
Completion: Spring 2012
Authorship: BIG, Topotek1, Superflex
Collaboration: Lemming Eriksson, Help PR & Communication
Budget: Ca. 58,5 MIO DDK / 7.7 MIO EUR / 11 MIO USD

Project credits

ARCHITECTURE: BIG
Partner in Charge: Bjarke Ingels
Project Leader: Nanna Gyldholm Møller, Mikkel Marcker Stubgaard
Team: Ondrej Tichy, Jonas Lehmann, Rune Hansen, Jan Borgstrøm, Lacin Karaoz, Jonas Barre, Nicklas Antoni Rasch, Gabrielle Nadeau, Jennifer Dahm Petersen, Richard Howis, Fan Zhang, Andreas Castberg, Armen Menendian, Jens Majdal Kaarsholm, Jan Magasanik

LANDSCAPE: TOPOTEK1
Partners in charge: Martin Rein-Cano, Lorenz Dexler
Project Leader: Ole Hartmann + Anna Lundquist
Team: Toni Offenberger, Katia Steckemetz , Cristian Bohne, Karoline Liedtke

ART CONSULTANCY: SUPERFLEX
Partner-in-Charge: Superflex
Project Leader: Superflex
Team: Jakob Fenger, Rasmus Nielsen, Bjørnstjerne Christiansen

• Charlotte Higgins, chief arts writer
• The Guardian, Sunday 28 April 2013 17.00 BST
• Jump to comments (11)

David Lan, artistic director at the Young Vic theatre, said: ‘Ultimately, we want to change the political culture: at the moment MPs don’t see the arts as important simply because there are no votes in it.’ Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

While the culture secretary, Maria Miller, advocates arguing the case for the arts based on their economic impact on UK plc, the leaders of Britain’s arts organisations have a much more ambitious plan: to harness the enthusiasm of the nation to advocate for Britain’s cultural life, from blockbuster films to school music lessons and everything in between. The ultimate aim is for the arts to become a “manifesto issue” in Britain’s political life.

Since 2011, leaders of arts organisations, from theatres to museums to dance companies, have been quietly forming a new movement called What Next?, holding meetings every Wednesday morning in London.

Now What Next? is to hold its first large-scale event: on Monday a mass meeting with 600 delegates is to be held at the Palace theatre in London. The occasion will see the launch of three initiatives: first, to engage every British MP in the work of their local arts organisations; second, to draw in local councillors, business people and leaders of schools and colleges, treating them “like high-level donors”, according to the artistic director of the Young Vic, David Lan; and third, to come together to harness the voices of their audiences, visitors or members.

According to Alistair Spalding, artistic director of Sadler’s Wells theatre, the long-term aim of What Next? is to “actually get the public to understand the value of culture, so that it becomes a manifesto issue … One of the primary aims, which the arts hasn’t yet achieved, is to get the public on our side.”

Lan added: “Ultimately, we want to change the political culture: at the moment MPs don’t see the arts as important simply because there are no votes in it. In the medium term, we want people to be able to make the connections between what they see at their local arts centre, the movies, the training of actors, art schools, urban planning, computer-game design.”

One of the priorities of the movement is to promote public investment in the arts, but it is also much broader than that, said Nicola Thorold, executive producer of the Roundhouse in London. “It’s about what kind of a society, what kind of world we want to live in.”

The aim is that What Next? groups should spring up around the country, as has already happened in Manchester. The collective, as they describe themselves, is leaderless, and not allied to any political party, though their meetings have hosted politicians such as Miller and shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman as guests. Their conversation with education secretary Michael Gove, for example, is credited with being crucial in changing his thinking on the importance of cultural subjects in the school curriculum.

What Next? is different from previous attempts at lobbying for the arts in that it brings together leaders from all parts of the cultural world, including the commercial sector, education, heritage and creative industries. It is also, according to Spalding, “non-combative. We are not going to make a storm or be divisive, and that includes our relationships with politicians.”

It also aims to draw on the voices of the millions of people who enjoy British artistic life as audiences, amateur participants, volunteers or visitors.

According to the movement’s founding statement, “We believe that if we act together, we can maximise the effectiveness of our resources, our arguments, our ideas. True to the spirit with which we make and offer our art – imagination, persuasion, delight, generosity, conviction – we will find new ways to engage everyone in Britain in the power of the arts and culture and the benefits they bring to our collective and individual lives.”

香港人當中，不少對台灣的文化氣息傾慕不已。公共藝術在寶島雖不算是異常蓬勃，但亦已發展了一段日子。案例如藝術家李明道 (Akibo Lee) 創作的 BIGPOW STEREO ROBOT ，那是一件放在大街中的喇吧：

他們位於捷運中山站到當代藝術館中間的公園，由三個角色組成，包含了最中間的 BIGPOW 、以及左右兩個合音天使 TWINPOW 。這個創作和我的許多機器人作品一樣，擁有豐富的表情模組，利用 LED 燈變幻出不同的表情和路人打招呼，一方面擁有了生命感，另一方面用表情跟各觀眾建立感情。音響機器人顧名思義就是能夠播放音樂。他左邊肩膀上有個凹槽，當我們將手機或是MP3播放器接上了耳機插頭後，音樂就會由 TWINPOW 機器人身上的喇叭、以及中間那隻 BIGPOW 重低音喇叭播放出來。到了晚上，機器人身上以及地板上的 LED 燈還會隨著音樂脈動做出節奏的燈光變化。

此作品奪得第三屆公共藝術獎最佳民眾參與獎。公共藝術，除了鴨和屎，也可以這樣。

「公共藝術」，對李明道來說是源於生活所需本身的。

說到最初的構想，我在台北捷運站看到許多高中生們在跳街舞，他們身上充滿了活力與熱情，但是卻缺少了好的重低音音響。因此我就在想，如果有一天能有機會在捷運站附近設置一個公共藝術作品，我一定要幫他們做一台具有重低音響，讓他們能盡情地跳舞。

然而作品完成以後，是不是能滿足每一個人呢？這是另一問題。

作品甫完工時，有許多的朋友來跟他玩，年輕人們都很喜愛之外，有些到當代館展覽參展的國外藝術家，看到 BIGPOW 也問我能不能也到他們的國家設置一座。不過一開始，有些附近的居民嫌吵而不喜歡他，甚至一狀告到議員那，引來了媒體也引起了幾天的轟動。於是我們做了一些調整，例如將音量調小、播放時間做些改變：延遲早上能夠播放的時間、限制中午午休時間不能播放、以及晚上十點以後停止播放等等，以不影響居民的休息時間，慢慢和當地居民成為好朋友。之後我常常經過都會去看看他，看到很多人跟他玩在一起。後來我也認識了幾位作品附近的里民，他們會照顧 BIGPOW 視他為自己的鄰居。

其實一開始決定要把一個音響設置在戶外，本來就潛在著許多的擔心與不安。例如會不會被弄壞？大家放音樂時會不會吵起來？但是這些煩惱結果都沒有發生。事實證明台灣的觀眾們真的很棒，大家在使用音響機器人時，會很有禮貌的自發性排隊，甚至還會誇讚對方播放的音樂很好聽，互相交流。聖誕節經過時，會聽到大家不約而同的播放聖誕音樂，有時候還能看到一群年輕人用他來播放生日快樂歌，替朋友慶生呢！音響機器人是我覺得跟觀眾很有互動、也帶給我很大回饋的一個作品，讓大家和他變成好朋友，也是我做這個作品時最大的願望。

上個世紀我們的世界面臨殘酷的戰爭，藝術家們用作品提出批判、警告、反諷，或是反映、探索、讚頌社會潮流與大眾文化提出對藝術的理念與見解；這個世紀地球用許多的風災、地震甚至引發核災來重重地搖撼我們，我認為藝術家們應該要更有積極的反應，要用作品擁抱不安恐懼的觀眾，讓大家從中感受到溫暖與療癒。很高興「音響機器人BIGPOW」這個作品能夠得到公共藝術最佳民眾參與獎，在觀眾的反饋之外的另一個對我創作的重要肯定；我會繼續努力創作親近觀眾、帶給觀眾溫暖的作品。歡迎大家來跟我的機器人玩！

如果你說藝術就是美，那我要反問，美為何物？

昨日黃昏時份，我也看了西九的「蘇州屎」。老實說，其實除了「蘇州屎」之外，曹斐的《珠玉滿堂》（即燒豬）和 Jeremy Deller 的《佔據聖地》（也就是 Stonehenge ）也非常好玩。燒豬好玩的地方嘛，是可以走入豬肚投擲燒肉（這麼著，我以為自己在胡言亂語，但這是實話實說）； Stonehenge 則好玩在可以當做彈床，跳。

老實說， M+ 這次「充氣！」展覽，以公共藝術 (public art) 作為主題，從公關角度講非常聰明。今年來，那博物館已受到太多各種各樣的負面新聞困擾。從 Uli Sigg 到威尼斯雙年展，茅頭盡指向博物館管理層的獨行獨斷（或者，獨裁）與背離本土群眾。一句話，就是「大石壓死蟹」。而這次「充氣！」，憑藉氣球與群眾互動，以及那舊連最與藝術無關的人也會專程前往望一眼的屎，博物館彷彿是在說：「噯，我們也不是又高深又扮勁又唔聽人講，我們也很關心群眾的啦。」

朋友 S 說，她本來覺得 M+ 展出舊屎，是在破壞自我形象。然而那夜她回家，作為閒聊對母親說，「我聽日去睇舊屎。」母親竟回應：「…影張相返黎比我睇。」

S說，她做了藝術近十年，這是第一次母親要她拍一件 Art piece 回家。

打從上任開始， Lars Nittve 已知道打這份工重中之重的部份，是與群眾、本土藝術家建立良好關係。記得他上任不久我跟他談過很長時間，那時候他就說得坦白：藝術家和民眾仍然覺得 M+ 與他們無關，甚至帶負面印象。

他立志要把這局面扭轉過來。今日回頭看，同志仍須努力。或許香港的政治遊戲，遠較他想像的複雜。而事實上亦不得不承認，西方的博物館模式無法直接套用於香港。世界都覺得 Tate 好， MoMA 好，然而香港人並不特別想要一座 Tate 或 MoMA ，我如此感覺。其實我也無法扮代表，反映香港人的意見啦，只是我個人感覺而已。

繼續，個人來說，我喜歡這個展覽。我喜歡聽到一向不談藝術的人，對舊屎發揮創意，引申出自己的 interpretation 。無論在動作上（一個很漂亮的長頭髮的女學生躺在屎上拍照）、言論上（曾蔭權留下的），以至攝影上（遷就角度，用手機拍托屎、舐屎照片），早在無數的香港人察覺之前，他們已經在2013年4月某天，完成了可能是畢生中第一次對藝術的個人化解讀。

因為都是屎尿屁，我想到九十六年前的杜象 (Marcel Duchamp) 。當年他把尿兜送入展覽館，挑戰藝術與美的定義，後來給踢了出去。

「創意行為不僅由藝術家進行。觀眾也會透過對作品內在意涵進行解碼、解讀，加入創作行為一部份。」 — 杜象

如果按他的說法想，無數香港人就這樣，因為舊屎，第一次創作，第一次成為藝術家。

當然也有人不喜歡這個展覽。昨夜路上遇見藝評人 J ，我問他對這個展覽感覺如何，他不屑地搖頭：It’s just a gimmick. Why don’t they just put a jumping castle there. It is not art. 誠然如果你問，「充氣！」展覽作為一件藝術品，是否有甚麼驚天動地的深度，那確實幾乎沒有。不要發傻，無謂托腮對屎沉思。跳彈床也就是跳彈床，怎麼說也很難讓人跳著跳著明白起人生意義或宇宙論來。 Lars 所言也非常牽強：「沒有人說過那舊是屎，只不過情人眼裡出西施。有導賞員看到，說那像豬腳薑。你想它是甚麼它就是甚麼。」

甚麼嘛，屎就是屎。分明就是屎。屎屎屎屎屎。不要抵賴，只管好好拉。

然而，我在想的是，即便沒有驚天動地的深度，是否那就不是藝術。關於甚麼 is art 甚麼 is not art 這種討論，老實說根本就不可能有明確的分野。

你要給它畫條線，這條線就會限制你的思維。

當你說 it is not art ，你就輸了。

首先我們先派兩個人去找VANS區，然後mark靚款 (事前已經交待鞋號，哈哈)。另外兩個就去找租賣帳蓬的地方，以及挑選最佳擺放位置，之後再電話聯絡。OK 1..2..3.. 出發!

一進去就先會有安檢，然後就有派發印著草莓logo獨家高身紙杯的counter，再進去就看見派發小冊子和行李寄存的地方，當然就立即衝過去詢問價錢。

哇，一個袋10人仔，好fair ! 但為了省一點錢，一個包包扣著另外一個包包，結果用了40大塊便把將要遊歷十天的行李安頓好。(但其實這服務只適合那些不打算過夜的朋友，因為行李可以直接放在你的帳蓬裡，個人覺得十分安全。)

於舞台後面的露營區

鏡頭一轉就已經來到露營區。幸好帳蓬有得租又有得買，而且大量供應，款式分二人或四人，結果我們買了一個二人款，誰知太小了，然後再買多個四人款。其實價錢並不太貴，平均每個人約六十塊，當住一晚hostel ，不過你知道帳蓬都有一定的重量，所以之後那幾天每次準備提起背包時就已經疲憊不堪。(苦)

另外一提，正正在露營區旁邊有一排大約5至6間獨立屋可以租用，但我們事前知道價錢十分昂貴，而且知道這些預訂機會不是屬於我們的，只能眼白白看著他們在屋外BBQ ，而我們手上只捧著康師苦紅燒牛肉麵。(嗚嗚)

安頓好地方後，當然立即到VANS 減價區啦，畢竟表演一點半才開始，最後大家都有很好的收穫，不錯不錯。

在大舞台第一位表演嘉賓是曾軼可，等入場排隊時已經看見其大舉旗幟的粉絲，心想一定是大陸很紅的歌手吧，所以充滿好奇。是位樣子很可愛唱歌嬌滴滴的那種女生，結果…我們…不知不覺地…瞬間…走到旁邊的食物區(一定是食物的香味引誘我們，一定是! )

嚐過鎮江最有名的鍋蓋面，質地挺好。

然後繼續到主舞台看表演，內地樂迷看演出的表現真的十分大情大性，例如他們會在表演時高舉旗桿及吹氣公仔不停吶喊；或是因為台上一些音響出現了問題導致演出停頓而不停大叫退票及說髒話。遇到喜歡的樂團，亦會興奮地跟著拍子跳舞和自組小火車圍著圈圈轉，然後愈來愈多人加入演變成一條小火龍，真的超好玩!

音樂節裡也有飄流唱片攤

聽到音樂想即場彈返幾首? 呢到可以俾你開個小小小型音樂會。

HOCC

小火車轉轉轉

公安哥哥們都寓工作於娛樂

還有，小妹從沒試過在下午大熱天時看別人露天mosh，這實在太爽太hardcore了!

到了晚上就更爽了，雖然其空曠的環境和迎面來的強風的確有點兒冷，但除了燈光有給全場氣氛加熱之外，壓軸的大團如新褲子、盧廣仲等精彩的演出亦不斷令樂迷升溫，無阻大家散發對音樂的熱情。就算在那個搖滾校園舞台，學生們都玩得不錯，這無疑給他們一個很大的鼓舞，因為舞台經驗的確對剛起的團非常重要，不停地練習和演出才能使他們更加成熟。

演出結束後，樂迷都各自回到露營區，熱鬧的氣氛由剛才的大草地延伸至叢林中。預備充足的樂迷帶齊BBQ用具即場燒雞翼，吃飽了的就弄一個營火，有酒一齊喝，有話一齊說，有歌一起唱，完全感受到他們的豪放(特別是來自山東和新疆的朋友) 。

說真的，這種音樂體會非常深刻，如果香港都有就好了！期待中……

Bitetone仔都話好期待!

• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 17 April 2013 12.04 BST
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