Copenhagen Islands

The Danish contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, Coastal Imaginaries - later exhibited at the Danish Architecture Center - unfolds along-term, nature-based approach to climate adaptation in coastal urban areas. Building on research from the University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Islands explores how sea level rise, storm surges, and extreme rainfall can be addressed through a spatial and ecological rethinking of the coastal landscape.

The project proposes a transition from hard coastal protection solutions to an adaptive and dynamic coastal zone, where marshlands, beach meadows, seagrass beds, and stone reefs re-emerge as multifunctional landscapes. These not only serve as buffers against flooding but also create recreational spaces and strengthen biodiversity.

Urban development evolves in interaction with natural processes. The future city structure is anchored in a new topographical awareness, where settlements are gradually pulled back to the higher-lying suburban areas. Here, dense, community-oriented housing forms emerge along the green edges of the delta.

The coastline is redefined as a flexible, “sponge-like” transition zone—a spatial strategy that can absorb and delay water masses while also releasing water during dry periods. Copenhagen Islands is not a finished plan but a visionary starting point for dialogue on a more resilient, ecological, and socially integrated urban development—where investments in nature-based solutions not only reduce risks but also enhance quality of life, long-term resilience, and socio-economic sustainability.

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