A “parkipelago” of floating islands to provide more public spaces in Copenhagen

A “parkipelago” of floating islands to provide more public spaces in Copenhagen

My list

Author | Tania Alonso For decades, coastal cities around the world have gained land by taking it from the sea. Today, with the looming threat of climate change, some of these cities are turning to more environmentally-friendly urban planning solutions.One of these is the Copenhagen Islands, a project that seeks to introduce parks and public spaces into the city in the form of floating islands. These can move from one area to another, depending on the city’s requirements, and even join together to form a large area that can be used for major events.

A new public space

Denmark is a country in which the sea plays such an important role that the word island is one of the easiest to learn in the language: “ø”. Part of its capital, Copenhagen, is built on islands, which communicate via bridges that cross its canals.Now, a project approved by the city hall and designed by the Australian architect Marshall Blecher and the Danish designer Magus Maarbjerg, from the Studio Fokstrot, seeks to introduce a new form of public space in the city, also on islands, but this time artificial islands. The aim is to give the city’s industrial port area a new lease of life, which has seen considerable development in recent years.Another reason is to create leisure areas for citizens to enjoy, that can be adapted to rising sea levels, one of the challenges facing Denmark in the coming years. The project also aims to create a new resilient urban planning approach, based on recycled and sustainably sourced materials. Each one of the islands is being built by hand in the shipyard of Copenhagen’s port, using traditional wooden boat building techniques.

Copenhagen Islands: a “parkipelago”

The first of the floating wooden islands, which is called CPH- Ø1, covers an area of just 20 square meters and has a tree in its center. It was installed in the port in the north of the city in 2018, and has been moved to various different points since then.A person resting on CPH-Ø1 island.The idea is for this to be the first of many, and for a series of islands to be installed along the city’s coast, forming a “parkipelago”. CPH- Ø2 and CPH- Ø3 were prepared to be installed in March 2020, however, the pandemic meant the inauguration has had to be postponed until Spring of 2021.To date, CPH- Ø1 has hosted a photography exhibition, a series of lectures and many visits by citizens, who now use it as another part of the city. Once the rest are installed, they will be able to be joined together to form a super continent and be used to host various activities, such as concerts or exhibitions. Although these are just some of the potential uses.

A long list of possibilities

According to their creators, the floating islands can be used as a base for swimmers, as spaces to open a bar, a cafe or a sauna or even as mussel farms. The plans for Copenhagen Islands also include the creation of parks, gardens or urban vegetable gardens, which would provide more space for endemic plants, birds, insects, algae and mollusks.This is yet another alternative for Copenhagen, a city that is already looking to its sea and its canals and offers a wide variety of leisure options on the coast. Except that this time, the public spaces will be able to be moved anywhere they are required. Images | Marshall BlecherMagnus Maarbjerg

Related content

Recommended profiles for you

KV
Karla Villanueva
Independent
Energy engineer
CW
Carrie Whitlock
City of Elk Grove
Strategic Planning & Innovation Program Manager
MJ
Mayeda Jamal
Futureproofed
Regional Lead Nordics
AA
Aditi Awasthy
King's College London
A student of MSc Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy
MH
Martin Herlov
econsultants
CEO
PL
Pranvera Leka
Officinae Verdi spa
European Projects Unit Manager and coordinator
SA
Sevinc AR CHIMOT
CHOOSE PARIS REGION
💡 Supporting #Energy #Building #Smartcity Innovations to set up in Paris Region
MP
MARCOS PLANELLO
Neocert
Leader of experience in chain of custody, traceability and due diligence
AS
Anna Schiavo
uni
trainee intern
GW
Gerardo Wadel
Societat Organica
Founding partner, Project director
EV
Ellen Karoline Vierheller
Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Student
AA
Alfrazier Ahalul
MENRE
Land Management
PS
PASCHOAL SANSONI
UCLIMA
Head of Climate Change and Desister Risk and ESG.
DH
Dohui Hong
Daegu metropolitan city
Secondee at UCLG ASPAC
ÓP
Óscar Germán Pinto Albarracín
Pintalba tecnología
Project manager
GC
Gerard Corcoran
Huawei
Innovation
SP
Svyatoslav Pavlyuk
Association Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine
Executive Director of the Association of 90 cities, dealing with energy efficiency and transition
TS
tito sala
Exo
Estudante/ Universidade coimbra
RG
RAJU GAONKAR
GOVT.
A.A.O.
DD
diane donczyk
Decode
MD