Exemplary Remodelling: Kopenhagen
Heavy Rain Defences to Create a Recreation Zone
Scandiagade Street in Copenhagen was transformed by 1:1 Landskab landscape architects, who designed a sustainable drainage system within a distinctive urban environment. The central reservation was converted into an open space with eight retention basins that can hold a total of 1,500 cubic metres of water during heavy rainfall. The street profile was altered so that rainwater would be channelled from the road surface into these basins. People have access to the basins by way of a yellow footbridge: one basin has an urban garden; another has an area with suspended nets for climbing and another has a playground with small rolling hills. The project was realised in 2019 with the aim of promoting natural urban spaces and biodiversity.
The location
Scandiagade in the Sydhavnen district forms the border between the residential and industrial areas. The redesign transformed the simple, grassy central reservation into a linear urban park.
Participatory innovation
The street was divided into eight sections, which together offer a wide range of outdoor activities and recreation areas. The needs of the neighbourhood were taken into account when designing the different basins.
Multi-coding
The redesign follows the principle of multi- coding: important aspects of public life such as heavy rain protection and recreational value were combined to create a new spatial experience.
© 1:1 Landskab
Office
1:1 Landskab is a landscape architecture firm based in Copenhagen that has transformed many “dead street spaces” in European city centres into lively meeting places, with benefits for climate protection and biodiversity.