City Profile

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is a vibrant city with a strong focus on sustainability and high quality of life. It has a population of about 1.3 million in the urban area. The city is known for its robust economy, primarily driven by the service sector, information technology, pharmaceuticals, and clean technology industries. It also places strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, aiming to become carbon-neutral by 2025. The city's strategic initiatives in urban planning and public transport systems have been internationally recognized, positioning it as a leader in urban development and sustainability.

Copenhagen performs exceptionally in Assets, Urban Management, and Liveability, with some room for growth in Investor Attractiveness.

Improvements here can be made by incentivising global firms and startups to base themselves within the city. A critical challenge moving forward will be the city's ageing population and a need to attract a skilled working-age population to sustain growth.

The Danish capital is celebrated for its quality of life, boasting an array of green spaces, a vibrant cultural life, and high safety standards, making it exceptionally liveable. Its robust economy benefits from a diverse business environment and a high concentration of skilled labour, supported by education and research institutions that are leaders in environmental science and pharmaceuticals. The city is renowned for having world class infrastructure, specifically for its efficient and extensive public transportation system and commitment to cycling, which significantly reduces traffic congestion and pollution. The city's focus on sustainable urban planning is evident from its goal to become carbon neutral by 2025.

Case study

Copenhagen is one of the most densely populated areas of Denmark. The new City Circle Line (Cityringen) metro, expands the city’s existing system, and is a key part of its drive to become carbon neutral by 2025. Metroselskabet, Copenhagen’s transit authority, appointed Arup in joint venture with Cowi and Systra to act as the multi-disciplinary technical advisor for this ambitious metro design and build project, the city’s largest construction project in more than 400 years. Arup led the architectural design, taking a user-centric ethos at every step of the way. Our intuitive-minimalism, inspired by the Scandinavian design tradition, has led to spacious, light-filled stations with distinctive internal façades and materials that echo the local spirit of the areas they connect to.
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