Sankt Annæ Square

Sankt Annæ Square, marks the boundary between medieval Copenhagen and is the 18th-century Frederiksstaden, is among the finest historic urban spaces in the city. A large part of Copenhagen’s Store Kongensgade district has now been secured against cloudbursts through interventions on Sankt Annæ Square, while at the same time creating a modern and functional urban space in harmony with the many historic buildings that surround it.

The main design idea for Sankt Annæ Square has been to declutter, reinforce, and continue the formal, symmetrical green elements that have always characterised the square, extending them toward the new Kvæsthus Pier development and around the ramp to the new underground parking facility. Road widths have been reduced, while sidewalks and the central green strip have been widened. Previous barriers - fences, traffic, and parking spaces - have been removed, strengthening the connection between the green spaces and the street environment.

The project is designed to handle a hundred-year rainfall event in the lowered green areas, combined with special pipes and drainage systems. During cloudbursts, water is directed into the harbour - both across the surface and through underground pipes.

The redesign of Sankt Annæ Square has created more space for urban life. There are perennial flowerbeds, benches, pétanque courts, hammocks, and a play sculpture for children and adults designed by artist Eva Koch.

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