Copenhagen’s Five-Minute City: A Model for Sustainable Urban Living

Activity 1 : Spend 4 minutes reading the following text

Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district is a great example of the "five-minute city" idea. In this area, everything you need is very close to you. Whether it's housing, workplaces, schools, cafes, or shops, everything is within a five-minute walk. This idea helps people live without needing to drive cars. The goal is to make the city more sustainable, easy to walk around, and connected. If you can walk to everything you need, you don’t need a car.

The Nordhavn area used to be an industrial harbor. Now, it has become a modern and lively place to live. One of the best things about Nordhavn is that the buildings are designed to mix homes with shops and services. On the lower floors of the buildings, you can find cafes, shops, and gyms, while people live in the upper floors. This makes it easy for people to live, work, and enjoy their free time in the same place.

A key part of the "five-minute city" is reducing the need for cars. In Nordhavn, it’s easy to walk or ride a bike because there are many bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets. There is also a good public transportation system that connects Nordhavn to other parts of Copenhagen.

Nordhavn is also designed to be good for the environment. The buildings are energy-efficient, with solar panels and other systems that save energy. There are green spaces and gardens that help improve air quality and support wildlife. The area also uses smart designs to manage rainwater.

The bike lanes and walking paths in Nordhavn help make the city safer and quieter. With fewer cars, there is less noise and pollution. This makes it a nicer place to live. People who live and work in Nordhavn also enjoy a healthier lifestyle because they can easily walk or bike to different places.

Another important idea in the five-minute city is creating mixed neighborhoods. In Nordhavn, there are homes, businesses, and leisure areas in the same place. People can do most things they need without leaving the area, like shopping, exercising, or having coffee with friends.

The five-minute city idea is spreading to other cities. More places are looking at how Nordhavn has been planned and trying to make their cities better for people and the environment. In this way, Nordhavn is a model for other cities around the world. It shows that cities can be more sustainable and comfortable without depending on cars.

Copenhagen is known for having a high quality of life, and Nordhavn is part of the reason why. The five-minute city helps local businesses grow, improves people’s health, and helps reduce pollution. As cities around the world grow, they are facing problems like traffic and pollution. Nordhavn shows how urban areas can be designed to solve these problems and make life better for everyone.

Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district shows us that cities can be more sustainable, healthier, and happier places to live. By focusing on walking, cycling, and public transport, Nordhavn is proving that it is possible to create neighborhoods that help both people and the planet.

Activity 2: Complete the True or False below.

• a. In Nordhavn, everything is within a ten-minute walk.
• b. Nordhavn used to be a residential neighborhood.
• c. The buildings in Nordhavn have homes and businesses together in the same place.
• d. The area of Nordhavn has no bike lanes or walking paths.
• e. The five-minute city idea helps people use more cars.

Activity 4: Fill the blanks with the vocabulary from Activity 3

1. The new buildings in Nordhavn are ________, meaning they help save energy and reduce waste.

2. The city is designed to be ________, making it easier and safer for people to walk everywhere.

3. One of the key ideas in Nordhavn is creating ________ spaces where people can live, work, and relax in the same area.

4. Copenhagen is working hard to reduce ________ by encouraging the use of bikes and public transportation instead of cars.

5. To ensure long-term success, Nordhavn focuses on creating ________ urban environments that can last without harming the planet.

Activity 5: Choose one of the following prompts and write a short paragraph (share it below) or record a voice note.

a) Imagine you live in a city like Copenhagen’s Nordhavn. How would your daily routine change if everything you needed was within a five-minute walk or bike ride? Describe your ideal neighborhood and what you would like to have nearby.

b) Think about your own city or town. Do you think it could become more pedestrian-friendly or sustainable like Nordhavn? What changes could be made to help reduce pollution and improve people’s health?

c) Discuss the idea of mixed-use neighborhoods. Do you think it is important for a neighborhood to have homes, shops, and offices all in one place? How could this type of design improve the quality of life in your city?