Typologising site-specific features in young industrial landscapes

Young industrial landscapes (YILs), dating roughly from the 1930s to 1970s, are by virtue of their location, size, and partly underused capacity potential new locations for urban redevelopment driven by municipalities and private investors. However, such redevelopment often neglects existing physical characteristics including heritage and ecological potentials. This paper raises awareness and knowledge of these potentials by examining YILs’ spatial characteristics as part of the process of elaborating their future roles as sites for urban transformation. We develop a typo-morphological approach to analyse the physical structure of YILs in the Copenhagen capital area, revealing both general and site-specific qualities relevant for future transformations. We find that YILs’ locations and edge zones hold potential for mediating access between cities and green wedges. Site-specific scenic locations, significant earthworks, plantings, and buildings have potential for reuse and contribute spatial ambience. The paper finally discusses how typo-morphology might be understood from a YIL perspective.