Superkilen Park

A wedge of color through multicultural Nørrebro

Superkilen Park cuts a vivid swathe through the heart of Nørrebro, one of Copenhagen’s most diverse neighbourhoods. Conceived as a half‑mile “wedge” of public space, it stretches between Nørrebrogade and Tagensvej, threading past apartment blocks, a sports hall and busy cycle routes. Opened in 2012, the park was created to bring together residents from dozens of nationalities and to give this dense urban district a generous, shared backyard. From the moment you step onto its surfaces, Superkilen feels different from a traditional park. There are no neat lawns framed by classic flower beds; instead you enter an outdoor collage of bold colors, graphic lines and sculptural objects. Everyday life flows through it—cyclists commuting along the main path, children racing between play zones, neighbours pausing on unusual benches to talk as buses roll along parallel streets.

Three distinct zones, three different moods

The park is divided into three characterful sections: the Red Square, the Black Market and the Green Park. Each has its own atmosphere and purpose, yet they blend into one continuous urban landscape. The Red Square, with its red, pink and orange surface, is the most energetic: a place for ball games, skating, informal performances and hanging out by the sports hall. Here, bright graphic markings run up building façades, turning walls into part of the playground. At the heart of the site, the Black Market changes the tempo. Black paving, rippling white lines and clusters of furniture create a more intimate, plaza‑like feeling. It acts as the neighbourhood living room, where people gather under shade trees, play chess on fixed tables or chat by a central fountain. Further north, the Green Park softens into rolling lawns, trees and small hills. This section offers space for picnics, sunbathing, dog‑walking and informal sports, while edges of planting bring seasonal color and birdsong.

A world exhibition of everyday objects

One of Superkilen’s defining ideas is its collection of urban objects sourced from around the globe. Working with local residents, the design team selected benches, swings, fountains, play structures and signs that reflect the many cultures represented in Nørrebro. As you wander, you might encounter a Moroccan fountain, a Brazilian bench, a Japanese octopus slide or a Spanish picnic table, all carefully integrated into the landscape. These objects are not treated as rarefied art pieces but as usable elements of daily life. Children climb on a red play tower inspired by distant playgrounds; families gather at South African‑style barbecues; skaters zip past a neon sign originally made for a dentist in the Middle East. Plaques and small details hint at each object’s origin, turning an ordinary stroll into a quiet tour of global design and everyday rituals.

Architecture, art and landscape woven together

Superkilen is the result of a collaboration between architecture, landscape and art practices, and that fusion is visible everywhere you look. In the Red Square, colored rubber, asphalt and paint fuse into a single surface that appears to fold up onto adjacent buildings. On the Black Market, the famous white lines undulate like topography, curving around trees, lampposts and benches to create a dynamic sense of motion even when the space is still. The Green Park shows a more subtle side of the project. Here, carefully shaped hills provide vantage points over the neighbourhood and the length of the wedge, while varied tree species—from Japanese cherry blossoms to maples and conifers—enrich the planting palette. The long, continuous cycle path stitches all of this together, ensuring that the park is not only a destination but also a vital urban route linking different parts of the city.

Living neighbourhood hub throughout the day

Over the course of a single day, Superkilen shifts character. Early mornings see joggers following the path and dog‑walkers crossing the lawns. Midday brings families with strollers, local workers on lunch breaks and small children exploring the play zones. As afternoon turns to evening, the Red Square and Black Market become lively social spaces, with groups gathering on the steps and teenagers using the sports courts and skate features. Because the park is open at all hours, it also has a distinct atmosphere after dark. Streetlights and neon signs pick out the graphics underfoot, while the surrounding apartments and passing traffic provide a sense of urban theatre. Yet even at its busiest, pockets of calm remain: a quiet bench in the Green Park, a hilltop with views over rooftops, or a shaded corner by the chess tables.

Experiencing Superkilen as a visitor

For visitors from outside Nørrebro, Superkilen offers a concentrated glimpse of Copenhagen’s contemporary urban design ambitions and its multicultural everyday life. It is equally suited to a quick photo stop on the Red Square, a longer wander tracing the entire 750‑metre length, or an unhurried afternoon picnic on the grass. Photographers are drawn to the strong colors and patterns, while children quickly claim the swings, slides and sports areas. Beyond its visual impact, the park encourages you to notice the small stories embedded in its objects: why a particular bench shape might be common in one country, or how a neon sign gains new meaning in a different context. Spending time here is less about ticking off sights and more about watching how this shared space works—how cyclists, families, elders, skaters and visitors weave around one another, all framed by that unmistakable ribbon of color through the city.