In the competition to become a global powerhouse, most metro cities are overwhelmingly concerned with vertical height. The pursuit of record-high skyscrapers, sprawling freeways, and gross domestic product (GDP) figures that will impress on paper has created an obsession among many cities. The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, chose to bow out of the race for global supremacy and instead pursue a people-centric model of urban design.
Copenhagen has made it clear that it does not want to set new records for size or ostentation in the realm of building development. Fifteen years ago, the city made a bold move away from historical convention by adopting a design plan that prioritises people over cars or capital. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) officially ranked Copenhagen as the most livable city in the world in its 2025 Global Liveability Index, with a score of 98.0/100.
Why the Danish capital is designed for humanity
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