写真

This is a door in Christiania, the separatist community located in the middle of Copenhagen. In the 60's the military abandoned a number of buildings located a little west of Christiansborg, the parliament building. A group of hippies took over the buildings, located between two canals, and formed a small country within a country. The hippies aged and had children that were raised in Christiania. They erected homes that defy all Danish ideas of housing and started restaurants to bring in visitors. They erected a gate that advises people departing Christiania "You are now entering the EU."

Despite a lot of political criticism, Christiania still exists and has become quite the tourist magnet. Large dogs roam, unimpeded by leashes and the architecture continues to be interesting. Located on what today is prime real estate, feelings towards the settlement are quite volatile. Young people love the idea of a separatist state in the middle of the capitol city, while those who pay Danish property taxes, look at the area with disgust.

This door, on an old military building, is quite characteristic of the area. Most of Denmark is made up of neat and tidy doors with clean and simple door stoops, while Christiania's doors are all different and all unique.