For my STEP signature project, I went on the European Cities and Sustainable Urban Planning Practices study abroad through Knowlton School of Architecture Engineering. We traveled to Munich, Cologne, Berlin, and Hamburg, and finished the trip in Copenhagen, Denmark. Once we arrived in each city, we had to evaluate a site based on the four elements of urban design as a group, had various individual site presentations in each city, and had to keep a daily log throughout the entirety of the study abroad.
I never realize just how much other countries in Europe have had a greater focus on sustainability and have implemented these practices into their society to greater effect than in the United States. This study abroad has made me question why the United States is not implementing more techniques from Europe about sustainability and environmental preservation. Everything from the massive solar farms in Germany, to the incredible usage of public transportation, the cities throughout Germany and Denmark exhibited several methods that can help improve the sustainability of a nation functionally. This journey helped me gain more self-confidence and pushed me outside of my comfort zone allowing me to explore greater opportunities. Before this experience, I struggled greatly with public speaking. Whenever I presented in front of other people, I would become embarrassed and have several speaking mistakes in the process. Through the inclusion of the individual site visits and the group case study presentations, I was able to get more experience in the realm of public speaking and become more comfortable when it comes to presenting.
European sustainability was most evident in Hamburg in the Inselpark District where apartment buildings are designed to be carbon neutral. One of the buildings featured an algae bioreactor façade. The panels on the sides of this building grew algae which were then able to be used to power the entire building! Another building in the area is known as the Wood Cube which features sustainably harvested wood, is free of pollutants, and is completely recyclable. The structures in this Deep Green Development were not the only impressive examples of how Europe has excelled in sustainable urban practices, but the biking infrastructure also reflected their environmentally conscious thinking. The biking infrastructure in all five cities was significantly better than anything I have ever experienced in the United States. By making bike travel easier and more accessible it promoted a healthier mode of transportation for a sizable portion of the population, reducing everyone’s reliance on vehicles. Copenhagen had the best implementation of biking infrastructure, with the greatest attention to detail. For example, we visited the Snake Bridge which is a bridge made exclusively for bikers that connects two parts of the city and sees thousands of bikers every day as the locals commute to and from work. Almost every bridge in. Copenhagen allows cyclists and pedestrians to cross, such as in the case of the Inderhavn Bridge. This bridge has a unique twist to it as it is retractable which permits larger ships to pass through it. Copenhagen also placed railings at intersections to allow bikers to have a place to grab onto while they wait for the traffic lights to change colors. Additionally, they placed asphalt ramps along practically every curb in the city allowing for cyclists to have a seem-less transition between the roads and sidewalks.
Munich, Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, and Copenhagen also had incredible public transportation systems. No matter where you needed to go in the city, you had a variety of options to get you there from the underground subways to the above-ground trains, buses, and even water taxis. The public transportations in the cities were designed to be eco-friendly with most of the trains being electric, and almost all buses are zero emissions. Copenhagen adapted to the numerous waterways in the city by adding water taxis giving people quick and easy passage across the harbor. As we traveled by train from city to city it was also very evident the number of solar and wind farms that were present in each country, as they focused on moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy. The public transportation systems in Germany and Denmark were constructed with sustainability as the main focus in their design.
My four individual site presentations for the study abroad were the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, Pariser Platz in Berlin, and the Royal Library and Inderhavn Bridge in Copenhagen. For each of these presentations, I had to do some research before the trip, and then once we visited the location, we had to give our presentation to the group. Through the progression of the trip, I found these presentations to become less and less of a fearful experience and more enjoyable. These were not the only activity we participated in that allowed me to improve my public speaking, but the group case study presentations also forced me to become more proficient at communicating clearly and effectively with my peers. This educational experience not only allowed me to improve my self-confidence but also allowed me to become more comfortable with experiences outside my comfort zone. Before this trip, I would hardly go places on my own and sought out group activities, but through this experience, I feel more confident in doing independent activities. This study abroad made sure to give the students ample time to explore the cities on their own and in doing so, this challenged the students to find what interested them and how to navigate on their own. Having utilized public transportation in all five cities in Europe, I now believe I can successfully navigate public transportation in any city in the United States and plan to use it more often as an alternative to cars.
As I prepare to graduate, I hope to pursue a career in the field of environmental sustainability. Since this education, abroad program highlighted sustainable urban practices I hope to carry what I’ve learned and observed forward into my post-graduate career. I was able to witness how these other countries were able to implement these sustainable practices and continue to improve these public works back in the United States. By traveling to Copenhagen and Germany I was able to see the unique implementation of each country’s sustainable practices and how they were designed to adapt to each country’s unique landscape. This trip has opened my eyes and reaffirmed my passion to pursue a career track in renewable energy or electric cars.
