Nordhavnsvej

Nordhavnsvej is a large-scale infrastructure project that connects the Helsingør Motorway with Nordhavn in Copenhagen and plays a central role in the municipality’s development plans for the area. Based on extensive environmental impact assessments, its central location in the city required careful landscape and design adaptation, with a focus on “adding more than is taken” – both for the surroundings and for the many residents living close to major traffic hubs.

The project is conceived as a single figure, where road, bridge, and tunnel are tied together by a common narrative of speed and connection. The design is inspired by early racetracks, with long, flowing curves that consolidate the diffuse urban space at outer Østerbro. The entrance to Nordhavnsvej is marked by sculptural elegance, while the tunnel portal – with its fractal daylightscreen – reflects the sky’s light without glare, signaling that something special begins here.

The custom-designed furnishings – lighting, guardrails, and sign portals – support the overall experience without compromising traffic safety.

Schønherr was also responsible for planting the surrounding areas with a focus on biodiversity and species variation, based on both the road’s interfaces and the preferences of local residents. A large, bowl-shaped stormwater basin further protects the area against flooding.

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