The book SUPERKILEN celebrates the dawn of a new type of urban public space. Superkilen, designed by BIG, is a kilometer 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 from 60 different nationalities – the 60 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. 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 a vehicle for integration enforcing local sentiments of ownership, while turning public participation into the driving force of design.
