COPENHAGEN NORDHAVNEN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION – 2008

Project Team: Boguslaw Witkowski, Daniel Gola, Elmar Hess, Tim Thornton.

NORDHAVNEN - “BETWEEN INDUSTRIAL ARCHEOLOGY & MODERNITY…”

Design intentions

Conversion of the Industrial zone of Northern Harbour in Copenhagen, into a new urban development area with room for 40,000 residents and 40,000 staff in buildings with a total floor area of 3mln m².

With our whole respect for the valuable findings of the past, we suggest a new way where we do not propose » the buildings » anymore, but offer the “Blue” and “Green Areas” to be inhabited by Copenhagen citizens. Instead of high rise buildings with wind turbulences, we suggest some inhabited hills refreshed with a natural coastal breeze.

I. SITE: Industrial zone of the Northern Harbour in Copenhagen and sea reclamation area.

CONCEPT: BEE HIVE

On the existing industrial site of the Nordhavnen and reclaimed from the sea additional  area, we propose the inhabited green hills based on the image of a bee hive or ant hills, where we create a new urban natural environment, the space where it will be pleasant to spend time, living a happy life, working and relaxing. The feeling enhanced by being able to live together with family and friends in harmony with Nature…where it will be no more necessary to drink to forget the “Modern City”.

What is the “Modern City” now? It is a dead and stagnant collection of stones and concrete walls, and of sometimes even fashionables but mainly pretentious boxes.

It should become a living organism which forms part of the Nature and where its inhabitants are the fully entitled actors of every day life, functioning as her integral part.

DENSE CITY

There is no need of classical towers to ensure the higher density in the city. Our terraced green structures will present a natural landscape without presence of the boxes and cubicles to offer a new dense habitat for the city of Copenhagen.

GREEN SPACES

1- Wetland areas with biological diversity already existing on site are to remain untouched

2-Creation of “corridors” for plants and animals

3-Creation of on-grade green areas for visitors with nature rooted fittings:

-pocket parks close to the build-up areas

-water parks close to the beaches and water sport facilities

-green connections as a link spaces between the natural and artificially created spaces

4-Creation of up-grade green areas with collectively and individually cultivated greenery as suspended gardens

The goal to obtain the most bicycle-friendly city in the world will be achieved by a progressive elimination of car drivers by developing more metro, bicycle paths, water-taxis, boats...