History of Copenhagen: Structure, Plan, Design

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The question underlying this course is a simple one: Why does Copenhagen, or any other city, look the way it does? The answer is less simple, though. Cities are human artifacts. Their structure, plan and design are the cumulative results of countless human acts rooted in reason, ideology, aesthetics, ostentation, and concerns for economy, efficiency, security, mobility, or quality of life. Hence the relatively simple study of the physical history of Copenhagen - the development of the urban plan, the design of its built environment, and the changing use of space - involves an exciting journey into European intellectual, artistic, religious, political, economic, social, technological and military history. Expect an unusual, but inspiring course!