BaNanna

Park
Copenhagen, Denmark

PLAN 210/Studio 102

Robertson Soosaar
20613045
Karen Hammond
October 2, 2016
Image Source: (Srheddy, 2013)
 Table of Contents OVERVIEW
Location:
Copenhagen, Denmark

3. Overview
4. Site Features: Uses and Activities
5. Site Features: Walls and Landform
6. Site Features: Public Art
7. Site Features: Furniture and Lighting
8. Site Features: Sustainability and Vegitation
9. Analysis
10. Recommendations Before
11. Recommendations After
12. References
Architects/ Engineers/Contractor:
Nord Arkitekter, Schnherr Landskab,
Atkins Danmark, Sklskr Anlgsgartne-
re A/S
Cost: DKK 6 Million ($1.2 Million CAD)
Time frame: Completed in May 2010
Size: 5000 square meters 125m x 45m
Significance: Prior to its existence, the BaNanna Park was a toxic industrial waste site. The park is unique
when comparing it to the typical urban park. One of the main features of the park is a large 14-meter-high
rock climbing archway that was designed so that people would stop, linger and enjoy the surroundings. The
park also contains a large yellow wood structure designed to replicate a banana. The park is considered a
green oasis in the middle of a densely populated area.

Photo by: (Lekfeldt, n.d.)

2 3
Facts From (Bananna Park, 2014)
 Walls and Landform
The most notable of the walls in the
BaNanna Park is the rock climbing

S
wall. The 14-meter-high wall is de-

R E
signed to fit in with the surrounding

T U
buildings. This rock climbing wall

E A
attracts rock climbers from all over

ITE F
Denmark. Climbing advocates call

S
the wall impressive due to its many
features that replicate a real rock feel
(Nielsen, 2010).
Source: (Latham, 2016)
The main attracting feature of the park is the The park is surrounded by a wall of 5
parks namesake, the banana. The large banana story townhouses. These houses act
sculpture acts as a multifaceted attraction. It as a barrier to the busy surrounding

v i t i e s attracts people for its visuals, it can be used as streets. Though, this protection from

Acti
a play structure for children, and it can be used the streets may seem peaceful, it can

s a n d as a seating area for people who want to relax also have a damaging impact on the

Use
(Bananna Park, 2014). connectivity of the park.

Unlike most urban parks, the BaNanna park The park is generally flat, with some
contains a 14-meter-high rock climbing wall. This small grass berms on the edge of the
development attracts very different kinds of greenspace. The park also has an area
activities and use than an average urban greens- designated for younger children. This
pace. Rock climbing enthusiast have blogged and area includes a play structure along
raved about the public access rock climbing fea- with slides, swings, and sandboxes
ture in the neighborhood (Bananna Park, 2014). (Lekfeldt, n.d.).

Along with the banana and the rock climbing

wall, there are also tables for table tennis, two
market halls designed for outdoor markets and 3. Rock Climber Attempting the BaNanna Park Wall
concerts, and a greenspace where kicking a
soccer ball or throwing a Frisbee is a common
site. The BaNanna Park attracts a vast diversity
The image to the right shows the landform
of users, from adults and teenagers who use
of the park. The park contains a large open
the rock climbing wall, to children who use the
green space in the centre. This greenspace
playgrounds and to the elders that take a walk
is surrounded by a paved loop. This loop is
through the park on a Sunday afternoon (Mood-
used to access the other parts of the park,
ley et al, 2013).
but it can also be used as an exercise track.
Local citizens run laps, while children like to
1. The Bananna bike/rollerblade around this paved loop (Ask
& Dahlberg, 2011).

4. Community Gathering
4 2. Soccer Pitch
5
 Source: (Hj, 2011)

PUBLIC Furniture and Lighting

ART
Site Plan
The site plan shown to
the left displays different
furniture amenities within
the park. There are many
tables with chairs for users
to sit in and relax. There
are also many benches
(shown as small white
boxes) for visitors to stop
and relax. The large banana
shaped structure also acts
as a seating area (Schon-
herr, n.d.).
7. Site Plan

Graffiti art is also displayed on the walls, and sur-
rounding buildings of the park. The colourful and
bright paintings create a sense of happiness and safe-
ty in the park, which is important for children and
families that use the park. The artwork on the main
wall in the park depicts see no evil, hear no evil, speak
no evil, colorful buildings, nature, insects, and paint-
ings of happy, inviting animals (www.globe-trottica.
com, 2015).
5.
Art is publicly displayed on the rock climbing
walls. Graffiti like paintings decorate the white
walls of the rock climbing surface. This display of
art encourages passersby to stop and look, and it
gives the rock climbers a unique visual experience
while climbing (Hertz & Warren, n.d.).
6.
6 7
Seating
To the right is an example of one of the picnic tables
that the park has included. Park users can come here
for a picnic, a game of chess, or to just sit, relax, and
watch the activities going on around them (Bananna
Park, 2014).
8. Seating Area
Lighting
As for lighting, the park has one main light pole with
three powerful bulbs pointing in different directions
as shown on the image to the left. This is adequate
for lighting up the field and paved area, but when it
comes to the corners and heavily treed areas at the
other end of the park, this option for lighting is not
good enough (Latham, 2016). There are also no lights
along the pedestrian paths, something that could
affect safety in the dark hours.
9. Lighting
Sustainability and Vegetation Analysis
Vegetation
The park has three main land-
scape components: the lawn,
the square, and the jungle.
The jungle is the area of
Image Source:(Copenblogen, 2011)
the park where the land-
scape architects planted
many trees. They placed Success Non-transferable Ideas
trees in a small area The success of the BaNanna Park can be attribut- There are some aspects of the BaNanna park that
to create a very dense ed to its uniqueness. A group of researchers from would not be transferable to the University of Water-
canopy that resembles Roskilde University conducted a study of Copen- loo East Campus. One aspect would be the lack of con-
a jungle like atmosphere hagen residents who lived in the BaNanna Park nectivity. The Banana park is almost entirely enclosed
(Copenblogen, n.d.). neighborhood (Nrrebro). Many of the residents by surrounding buildings. Due to the lack of time
said that more greenspace and exercise areas were between classes, and the spread of waterloo campus,
a top priority for them. The city of Copenhagen was students are constantly trying to find the shortest dis-
able to meet the needs of its residents by creating tance possible to their classes. This can be seen behind
a vibrant green space, a space with many amenities the SLC where informal dirt paths have been eroded
10. Park Boundary Image Source: (IuGher 3D, n.d.) including some that promote exercise and healthy away into the grass from pedestrians. The University
living. Copenhagen was able to do all of this in what of Waterloo 2009 Master Plan also states that The
was previously a toxic waste site. This dramatic Waterloo Campus will be pedestrian-oriented, accessi-
Success in Sustainability transformation is one of the greatest reasons that ble and connected (Urban Strategies et al., 2009). The
the BaNanna Park has been successful (Moodley & BaNanna Park only has two main entrances/exits. This
The BaNanna Park is seen as a success when it comes
Andersen, 2013). would not be enough for UW students to get to and
to sustainability. The park was built on a brownfield site
from their classes in shorter amounts of time.
that previously held an oil refinery (Copenblogen, n.d.).
The development of the park required a contamina- Transferable Ideas
tion cleanup. The cleanup of previously contaminated There are many concepts from the BaNanna Park
sites has a great deal of positive environmental impact that could be used and applied when redesigning
around the park area. the Eastern part of the University of Waterloo main
campus. Rock climbing is becoming more and more
Before the park was built, the city of Copenhagen was popular in Ontario. The University of Waterloo al-
receiving pressure from developers who wanted to buy ready has an indoor rock climbing wall. However, this
the site, and develop it. The city did not allow for any existing wall is difficult to access due to its popular-
developments and instead provided a park with green- ity. Providing an outdoor rock climbing wall would
space, something that residents had been advocating allow students to get more active and get outside. A
for. The fact that this area of greenspace was conserved rock climbing wall would also add interest for pedes-
has great impact on both the social and environmental 11. BaNanna Park Front Gate trians passing by, and perhaps make people stay and
sustainability of the Nrrebro neighborhood of Copen- 12
watch the climbers make their way along the vertical
hagen (Bananna Park, 2014). obstacle course. The above image shows vast array of pedestrian paths
that the University of Waterloo campus has. This level
of connectivity is not displayed in the BaNanna Park
and therefore should not be transferred to Waterloo.

8 9
Recomendations Recomendations

BEFORE AFTER

Image Source: (Copenblogen, 2011)
Adding trees, especially along the berm in the
green space can have many beneficial outcomes.
The trees on the small hill can slow down and
stop erosion. Trees can also provide users with
more shade, and more visual interest. More
lighting was added to help brighten the park at
night. The light fixtures are strategically located
to provide light to the pedestrian path which
increases the safety of the park. Planters with
flowers, and a coniferous shrub were added
alongside the pedestrian path. This acts as a
non-intrusive barrier between the path and the
green space. It is designed in such a way that it
separates the uses of the path and greenspace
but does not impede anyones ability to walk
from the path to the green space.

10 11
 References
Andersen, M. C. (2014, January 23). American Students Rethink a Copenhagen Neighbourhood Part 01. Retrieved Sep
tember 29, 2016, from http://www.copenhagenize.com/2014/01/american-students-rethink-copenhagen.html

Ask, A., & Dahlberg, J. (2011, May 16). Urban teranvndning - Jrnvgsverkstderna i Malm. Retrieved from
DiVA portal.

Bananna Park. (2014, January 14). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-life/copenha
gen-x-galleri/cases/bananna-park/

Copenblogen. (2011, July 09). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from https://copenblogen2011.wordpress.com/
tag/activity-center/

Hertz, S., & Warren, . (n.d.). 5 Awesome Outdoor Spaces in Copenhagen. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from
http://www.allthingsabroad.com/blog/5-awesome-outdoor-spaces-in-copenhagen

Hj, S. (2011, October 23). BaNanna, Last Bite. Retrieved September 30, 2016, from http://classiccopenhagen.
blogspot.ca/2011/10/bananna-last-bite.html

IuGher 3D. (n.d.). Trees. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.lughertexture.com/vegeta
tion-plants-textures/trees-png-with-alpha-transparency

Latham, K. (2016, June 7). Parks in Copenhagen - Bananna Park. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from
http://lathamsnews.blogspot.ca/2016/06/parks-in-copenhagen-banana-park.html

Lekfeldt, T. (n.d.). BaNanna Park. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.kobenhavnergron.dk/place/
bananna-park/?lang=en

Moodley, D. B., Andersen., Boldt, K., Fogh, K., Hansen, S., & Eisenhardt, P. (2013, January 2). Borgerinddragelse og
Superkilen. Retrieved from RUDAR.

Nielsen, A. (2010, May 20). Bananna Park Open. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://frontpoint-sport.
com/?tag=climbing

Nord, A. (2009). Nord architects: Bananna park, copenhagen. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.
designboom.com/architecture/nord-architects-bananna-park-copenhagen/

Nrrebro Klatreklub., (2016). Bananna Park - Climbing in the Heart of Nrrebro

Schonherr, BaNanna Park. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.schonherr.dk/projekter/ba
nanna-park/

Srheddy. (2013, January 15). BaNanna Park. Retrieved September 30, 2016, from https://seddyincph.wordpress.
com/2013/01/15/bananna-park/

Urban Strategies Inc., Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd., GSP Group., (2009). University of Waterloo
Campus Master Plan Update.

www.globe-trottica.com. (2015, May 29).Visit BaNanna Park. Retrieved September 29, 2016, from http://www.
globe-trottica.com/2015/05/11/10-non-touristy-things-to-do-in-copenhagen-part-ii/

Image Sources
1. (Bananna Park, 2014) 5. (Latham, 2016) 9. (Latham, 2016)
2. (Bananna Park, 2014) 6. (Latham, 2016) 10. (Google Maps, 2016)
3. (Latham, 2016) 7. (Schonherr, n.d.) 11. (Copenblogen, 2011)
4. (Bananna Park, 2014) 8. (Bananna Park, 2014) 12. (Urban Strategies et al., 2009)
12 Library Session Tuesday Sept. 20 3:00 - 4:00 P.M.