Finger Plan facts for kids
The Finger Plan (Danish: Fingerplanen) is a special idea for how the city of Copenhagen in Denmark should grow. It was created in 1947. Imagine your hand: the plan suggests that Copenhagen should grow like five 'fingers' reaching out from a 'palm'.
The 'palm' is the busy center of Copenhagen. The 'fingers' are areas where new buildings and businesses can be built. These 'fingers' are placed along train lines, making it easy for people to travel. In between these 'fingers', there are green spaces. These areas are kept open for farms and places where people can relax and play.
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What is the Finger Plan?
The Finger Plan is a way of organizing how a city grows. It's a type of urban planning. The main goal was to make sure Copenhagen grew in an organized way. This plan helped keep some areas green while letting other parts of the city develop.
Why was it created?
After World War II, many cities needed to rebuild and grow. Copenhagen needed a smart way to expand without losing its green spaces. The Finger Plan offered a clear strategy for this. It aimed to prevent the city from spreading out too much and becoming one big, messy area.
How does it work?
The plan guides where new homes, shops, and offices can be built. These new areas are like the 'fingers' of a hand. They follow the main S-train lines, which are like commuter trains. This makes it easy for people to get to work or school from different parts of the city.
The spaces between the 'fingers' are very important. These areas are protected. They are used for agriculture (growing food) and for recreation (like parks and sports fields). This helps keep the city green and provides fresh air for everyone.
Copenhagen's Metropolitan Area
The area covered by the Finger Plan is called the Copenhagen metropolitan area. This is a large region that includes Copenhagen and many smaller towns around it.
How big is it?
As of 2011, about 1.9 million people lived in this metropolitan area. It covers a large space, about 3,030 square kilometers. This area includes 34 different local governments, called municipalities.
Updates to the Plan
The original Finger Plan from 1947 has been updated over the years. This is because cities change and grow.
The Finger Plan 2007
In 2007, the plan was updated and called "Finger Plan 2007." This updated plan became a legal rule for how Greater Copenhagen must develop. It divides the metropolitan area into different zones:
- Inner metropolitan area: This is the 'palm' of the hand, the most central and busy part of Copenhagen.
- Outer metropolitan area: These are the 'fingers' where most of the new development happens.
- Green areas: These are the spaces between the 'fingers', kept for nature and outdoor activities.
- Other metropolitan area: These are the areas at the very ends of the 'fingers'.
This plan helps make sure that Copenhagen continues to be a great place to live. It balances city growth with protecting nature.
