The Six Forgotten Giants of Copenhagen

How to attract visitors to overlooked neighbourhoods?

Danish artist Thomas Dambo conceived a novel method. His six ‘forgotten giants’, made from recycled wood, dotted across the outskirts of Copenhagen are a suburban treasure hunt, complete with a cryptic online map and a clue at each stop to steer you right.

Each giant was inspired by the artists experiences of the surrounding environment, and built by local volunteers. Not just eerily beautiful, they’re practical to boot. For example; Hilltop Trines’ outstretched hand doubles up as a viewpoint cradle, while Oscar Under the Bridge supports a river crossing and Sleeping Louis provides shelter in an area where people often sleep rough. However, my favourite is Little Tilde, hidden deep within a thicket on the far side of a lake. Across the way you might catch a glimpse of her, peering through the foliage. It’s more rewarding, though, to navigate through the undergrowth to her clearing where she cautiously stands propped against two trees.

Dambo has gone on to populate other parts of the world with further giants, including in the US, Porto Rico and South Korea. But no matter where he gives birth to these friendly guardians, they always speak to that individual place, being made from local wood by local people, and carrying site-specific symbolism.