Transforming Copenhagen’s transit hubs into community assets

Where infrastructure meets community life

As part of an international team including Arup, Archetime, and Cobe, Gehl contributed early design input to the potential new M5 metro line in Copenhagen. Still in early planning and subject to public hearing and legal approval, the M5 aims to expand the city’s metro network while rethinking how station areas can support daily life and its surroundings.

Gehl’s role focused on the spaces around the stations and how they connect with neighborhoods, parks, support multimodal flows, and create a sense of place for both travelers and locals. Drawing on Gehl’s global experience with transit environments, the team delivered a strategic report analyzing eight station areas from cities around the world — highlighting best practices and transferable insights. Using Gehl’s people-first methods, the team framed how station areas could evolve into more inclusive, welcoming public spaces that do more than move people but also add value to the communities they serve.

Gehl’s input helped inform the final design by Archetime with an emphasis on Neighborhood-Oriented Transit (NOT) — an approach that prioritizes local life, public space quality, and long-term urban integration. This foundational work sets the ambition for future infrastructure projects to not only serve its function but to also foster belonging, resilience, and joy in everyday life.