Storbyhaven
The Storbyhaven park in Valby is one of those places you hardly notice until you suddenly find yourself standing in the middle of it, wondering how such a space could be hidden away in a densely populated neighbourhood. Here, everyday life, creativity and urban nature come together in a way that makes this place much more than just an ordinary park.
Between Gadekærvej, Mosestykket and Erik Ballings Vej lies Storbyhaven in Valby, a small green oasis that feels like a secret park for the neighbourhood's residents. Here, grass-covered hills undulate up and down, surrounded by perennial beds with wild strawberries, chives and flowers that attract butterflies and bees.
Along the edge, the long wooden bench winds its way like a landscape of its own. It serves as a sofa, a play castle and a vantage point from which to watch life in the garden. Children kick off their shoes and jump on the three in-ground trampolines, while the little ones splash around in the round water basins that fill up on rainy days. Others barbecue, drink coffee at the tables or walk along the paths that connect the garden to the urban space by the street pond.
If you look up, you will see Drømmegavlen (Dream Gable). The huge poem gable is created from the residents' own dreams, punched out in metal and illuminated when darkness falls. Sit down on one of the benches, read the sentences one by one, and you will suddenly understand how personal this little piece of urban nature is to the people of Valby. Here, the desire for rhubarb cake in the sun stands side by side with the hope for a secure future for the children.
The city garden is the result of the urban renewal in Gl. Valby and was designed by landscape architects 1:1 Landskab in close dialogue with local residents. Perhaps that is why the place feels so well-used and loved. It is not just a park, but a communal courtyard for an entire neighbourhood, where you can find peace, play and new neighbours. You often leave much later than you had originally planned.