Open school yard at Amager Fælled School in Copenhagen

Amager Fælled School has for many years lived a remote life away closed off from its urban surroundings but in 2011 the school management decided together with the municipality of Copenhagen to invite the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities to participate in a collaboration on making the once closed school area into an open and active place for the densely built-up urban area at the inner part of Amager that is known for having few public recreational areas.

After an extensive process with input from residents, students, teachers and day-care institutions located next to the school, a number of ideas and wishes were presented about how the strict line between the school area and the urban surroundings could be softened and new possibilities for play, movement, cultural experiences and more relaxed lounge area were added.

The many new activity options were only one part of the changes. The Amager Fælled School got a new “forest” in the middle of the city. In the school area of a total of 10,000 m², around 100 new trees of different woods were planted. The new forest can both be used as a learning environment for the students and as an excursion spot for a picnic for the locals in the Sundholm neighbourhood. 

All over the school grounds, there are small alcoves with activity options – both in the forest area and along the edges. There was a wish – especially from the girls of the school – to have more places where they could be themselves. One of the clear goals of the project was to make sure that many more girls become active.