Stumbling blocks

One of the single biggest innovations in street construction has been the invention on standard concrete paving slabs. These mean easy and safe walking for people of all ages, conditions and levels of fitness. In Denmark this helpful means to easier walking has been made less effective by the inclusion of strips of cobbles. These cobble blocks eventually get misalligned as the sand beneath them heaves due to the effect of freezing and thawing of the ground beneath. The blocks thus form small edges for you to stumble over. At major corners these are laid diagonally in up to four alternating rows of slabs and blocks. If you are in a wheelchair, use high-heels or push a pram these consitute a constant, unavoidable small nuisance. Why would a land so focused on functionality persist with this design? Because Danish architecture is the best in the world, and that includes the paving.

Ruko locks

Let´s start with an annoying daily detail before we get to the big societal issues. A very large number of doors in Denmark are fitted with locks made by a local firm called Ruko. Their ingenious design requires that you use both of your hands to open the door. One hand must twist the upper knob while your other must turn the lower handle. The upper knob requires a fair amount of twist-force acting upon a small area. This means you need a free hand and a good strong grip to open the door. If you are carrying something in one hand you must put it down. If your hands are slippery you may well lose your grip of the door. And if you are an older person with a weaker grip you´ll just be fed up with the whole thing. Why would a company persist in producing such a manifestly unhelpful design? One answer is because by dint of being made and designed in Dermark it is axiomatically world-class design!