Conflict and Coordination Pathways Between Environmental Sustainability and Social Equity in Public Facilities of High- Density Cities: The Case of Denmark’s Dokk1 Library

Abstract

Amid intertwined global urbanization and climate change, Copenhagen’s Dokk1 Library exemplifies how highdensity cities’ public facilities pursue dual environmental- social value, revealing its transition challenges. This paper employs a combined approach of literature analysis and case study methodology, grounded in relevant theoretical frameworks. It scrutinizes the design philosophy, operational model, and urban context of Copenhagen’s Dokk1 Library, aiming to reveal its effectiveness, contradictions, and integration strategies in achieving dual environmental and social objectives. Research indicates that while Dokk1 successfully integrates green technology with vibrant public spaces at the building level, it faces the risk of being regarded as a symbol of gentrification in the broader urban context. This reflects the pervasive latent issue of “unintended social exclusion” within sustainable practices. This phenomenon illustrates that outstanding architectural design alone does not automatically ensure social equity. Without forward-looking policy interventions to curb gentrification, environmentally sustainable outcomes may paradoxically erode the authenticity and inclusiveness of existing communities. Consequently, the true value of green public facilities in high-density cities lies not merely in technological sophistication, but in their capacity to serve as institutional anchors for advancing and sustaining spatial justice – a universal challenge confronting global urban sustainability transitions.