New tool aims to make Copenhagen more inclusive

With Bedre Byrum KBH, the City of Copenhagen has developed a practical tool for planning, developing and quality-assuring urban spaces across Copenhagen.

The tool is based on universal design and structured as an easy-to-use reflection checklist. Municipal employees can use it throughout every stage of projects carried out in the city’s public spaces, from analysis and citizen engagement to detailed design and evaluation.

You can find the tool right here.

The task is complex, but that is no excuse

The tool focuses on two central themes: place and stimuli. The first theme supports the connection between the city and the specific urban space, exploring how physical environments can be developed to support a good quality of life in the city. The second theme focuses on how to create spaces that stimulate the senses, invite people to spend time in them and encourage social interaction.

Bedre Byrum KBH’s foundation in universal design helps users think broadly and flexibly from the outset. Fundamentally, the city and its urban spaces should be usable by as many people as possible, regardless of age, disability or social circumstances. Although this adds complexity to the work, it is unavoidable, according to Lars Jensen, City Architect at the City of Copenhagen.

“If we want a vibrant and inclusive city, we must ensure that everyone can take part, whether they are walking, pushing a pram or using a wheelchair. The basic idea behind Bedre Byrum KBH is simple: Can we move through the city together? That is the quality we should strive for in every urban space,” he says.

Bedre Byrum KBH is available on the City of Copenhagen's website.

The tool was developed in collaboration with the Bevica Foundation through the partnership “From Accessibility to Universal Design”. The partnership was established with the City of Copenhagen in 2024, following a collaboration connected to Copenhagen’s designation as World Capital of Architecture in 2023.

Read more about the partnership and the work on the partnership's page here.