Copenhagen’s “Finger Plan”

regions and a population of 1.7 million, accounting for a large proportion of Denmark’s 5 million people (as of 2012). The city’s urban planners developed the “Finger Plan” in 1947. Urban development of metropolitan Copenhagen resembled the shape of a hand. The rail transit network extended from the “palm” through the five “fingers” with green space in between. This plan effectively integrated transportation and land use to guide urban spatial structure building. The “Finger Plan” was highly successful. Although it was a private proposal, the principles, key ideas, and recommendations were widely adopted at that time and became the foundation for future development of Copenhagen. It facilitated the City Management Act enacted by the Danish Parliament in 1949, which guided regional planning and limited unorderly urban sprawl through the Regional Division Law enacted by the state in 1956.

Adopting a transport-oriented urban development model facilitates low-carbon development. Intensive land use and a mixed functional layout helps reduce unnecessary trips and encourages use of public transport and slow modes of transit such as cycling and walking.