Tradition and renewal go hand in hand at Tivoli, the world-famous amusement park which inspired Uncle Walt to create Disneyland. Despite rounding its 165th birthday this summer, the venerable amusement park continues to live up to its founder Georg Carstensen's words that “Tivoli will never be finished”.
The amusement park's latest project, Tivoli Edge, is the most resent example of this prophecy. It calls for the drab concrete wall along the park's western border to be torn down and replaced with a three-storey glass arcade designed by the esteemed architect firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.
Boost of energyWhen the arcade stands completed, guests will be able to stroll through boutiques or dine at cafés and restaurants, providing the area in front of Copenhagen Central Station with a much-needed boost of energy.Lars Liebst, CEO of Tivoli, expects the project will have a harmonious, unifying effect on the downtown area. "We want to create life in the city centre year-round and make Tivoli a destination – even in the off-season," says Liebst.
COWI has climbed on board to serve as process consultant during the pre-review process and assist city officials and park representatives draw up a future local plan.They might face opposition from advocacy groups like the one which recently managed to block the construction of a high-rise hotel in the park designed by Norman Foster.
Mediating the cacophonyThe thought of sorting out the cacophony from citizen groups, park representatives and city officials does not seem to bother Karin Thuesen Pedersen, COWI's project manager and architect. She feels COWI can play a role in mediating the many voices that come to be heard as the beloved amusement park undergoes another change.
"It’s a tremendously exciting project to be involved in since Tivoli Edge will provide a significant and highly visible contribution to the life of the capital and open Tivoli up towards the city."
By Uzi Frank, uzif@cowi.comPublished: 12.08.2008