The overriding purpose of the project is, in co-operation with the areas residents, to "lift" the area both physically, functionally, culturally and socially. This will be achieved through an overall effort using the wishes and needs of the residents as a starting point.

In the overall effort, the following subjects are a priority:

• Squares, open spaces and traffic
• Culture and athletics
• Industry and occupation
• Improvement of the housing situation
• Housing projects with a social dimension
• Environment and ecology in the urban area
• Preventative healthcare and health promotion

 

Kvartercentret Nordvest
Head of Section, Jan Lindboe
Dortheavej 61
2400 Copenhagen NV
Tel: +45 38 14 02 61
Fax: +45 38 14 02 62
E-mail: jan_lindboe.kvncv@faf.kk.dk

The Municipality of Copenhagen
The Secretariat of Urban Regeneration
Rådhuset
1599 Copenhagen V
Tel: + 45 33 66 25 15
Fax: +45 33 66 70 30

Description of the area.
Two thirds of all dwellings in the area consist of rented housing, either non-profit dwellings owned by "Foreningen af Socialt Boligbyggeri" ("The Association of Social Housing Estates") or private persons. The remainder is either flats under a multi-ownership scheme or owner-occupied dwellings.

The area also contains a smaller mixed housing and industrial area., along with a purely residential area consisting of small houses and single-family houses. The majority of the dwellings in the area were constructed during a brief period in the twenties and thirties. The buildings are generally of a high technical and architectural standard, but many of the dwellings are small and outdated, and with regard to equipment and installation, 45% of the dwellings do not contain a shower (1994)

Physically, the area is thoroughly planned and it contains considerable architectural gems, such as Grundvigskirken ("The Church of Grundvig") and Bispebjerg Hospital. From the start, inner courtyards and large open spaces were planned in connection with most of the blocks of flats. The main problems are the large number of small and outdated dwellings, a general "social decline" and to a lesser extent, run-down buildings, through lack of maintenance or other architectural flaws.

With regard to traffic, Tomsgårdsvej and Frederikssundsvej are especially busy roads, with 35,000 cars using Tomsgårdsvej every 24 hours.

Within the area there are institutions for all age groups, however, there are no primary and lower secondary schools for the 7-to 16-year-olds. It is, however, planned to open one.

When the "Kvarterløft" started, there were no communal meeting places within the area but with the opening of the "Kvartercentret Northwest" in September 1997, the area has gained a central pivotal point for the areas’ activities. The "Kvartercentret Northwest" serves as a community centre and many activities take place here. Furthermore, the centre houses meeting activities related to "Kvarterløft" and the district, along with a drawing office which is responsible for tasks in connection with urban renewal projects.

The residents in the area.
The area is inhabited by approx. 6000 people spread out over 4000 dwellings. The average age in the area is high and there is a relatively large amount of pensioners in the area. Of the people of working age, more than half are out of work and approx. half of the residents come from a refugee or immigrant background. The Northwest area has the lowest average income per household in the country.

On average, the size of the households in the area consists of 1½ persons (1997). Today the make up of residents is very uneven with a predominance of old people, residents with social and economical problems and a concentration of mentally ill and abusers of various kinds of substances.

Problems and resources
In some parts of the area, the large amount of traffic is a considerable problem. The area is also marked by a lack of maintenance of roads and squares, which appear run-down and without function. The main problem in the urban regeneration area is the small and outdated dwellings along with the fact that the make up of residents in the area is uneven.

In the Northwest area, there is no shared identity, no shared traditions and no association formation to speak of. However, many people with an important resource live here – that resource being time! In addition to this, the existing residents’ association, housing co-operatives and house owners’ associations all have, or are in the process of building up, internal networks.

With the establishment of "Kvartercentret Northwest", which is the first of its kind in Denmark, the area now possesses an essential setting to implement processes to lift the entire area physically, functionally, culturally and socially.

Moreover, the Northwest area offers considerable resources, one of them being a diverse economic life, and with it the possibility to integrate physical urban renewal with industry and occupation.