Today we find examples of the integration of mountain sports activities in the urban environment, an innovative way of making recreational and healthy spaces available to all citizens. This trend can be seen in the installation of attractions such as climbing walls or artificial ski slopes in the heart of the city.
One example of this integration is the Copenhagen Climbing Park in the Danish capital, a design by the Bjarke Ingels Group architecture studio. It is a climbing wall – the highest in the world, by the way – that runs along the façade of a building used as a combined heat and power plant (which produces both electricity and thermal energy from waste at the same time). This climbing wall offers citizens an experience that replicates the challenges of the mountain and the essence of natural rock climbing.
On the rooftop of this same Copenhagen building, there is a hiking trail and an extensive ski slope. This project, known as Amager Bakke, challenges traditional notions of urban space and demonstrates the feasibility of combining industrial and recreational infrastructure.
Both are a clear example of multifunctional and sustainable architecture. Moreover, these facilities reflect an inclusive design orientation, as it democratises access to sporting activities, without the need to travel to hilly areas. At the same time, it contributes to the quality of urban life, with new options for leisure and physical exercise for residents.
By Juan Guardiola Cutillas, Senior Architect in Amusement Logic’s Architecture Department
