A Responsive Paradigm for Ocean-sprawl Resilience
Over the past two centuries, Copenhagen’s extensive land reclamation has significantly transformed its marine environment, disrupting the delicate balance between shallow southwestern waters and deeper eastern seabeds that once supported diverse marine life. Expansion through cofferdam techniques has altered natural gradients, leading to habitat loss and ecological degradation. As urban development shifts eastward, former industrial zones transition into residential and commercial areas, often neglecting ecological considerations. Meanwhile, low-lying reclaimed lands face increasing climate risks, with projections indicating a sea-level rise of up to 1.6 meters by 2100, heightening the threat of flooding.
How can we mediate the tensions and fragmentation at all levels of society resulting from this unchecked expansion? WATER RECIPROCITY responds to these challenges by restoring harmony between urban development and the marine ecosystem while addressing the social and spatial isolation caused by ocean sprawl in Refshaleøen.We envisions a future where Refshaleøen thrives as a resilient, ecologically vibrant, and socially connected waterfront, setting a new paradigm for sustainable coastal urbanism.
We chose this east–west oriented site because it offers strong potential to showcase a continuous public landscape and to design a sustainable green corridor that enables connectivity from the inner harbor to the open sea. Various forms of nature-based blue infrastructure are woven throughout the site, enhancing ecological function while respecting the existing industrial island grid and introducing greater permeability.
How do we cultivate refshaleøen temporarity?
We believe it can emerge through the interaction between water and material—an ever-changing dialogue that conveys a simple message: chaos can be sustainable.
To support this, we introduce a set of adaptable toolkits, loosely categorized into four overlapping types: movable, nature-based, recycled-material, and cultural-identity based.
Each of these tools has been evaluated with Pathfinder to assess their 60-year carbon emissions, grounding spontaneity in climate-conscious design.