16 Jun 2022
Copenhagen city devolopement
Copenhagen includes architectural and urban development projects involving climate adaptation, shared-use spaces, timber construction, energy systems and water management. The examples below describe their specific designs, functions and documented certifications.
Across the city, harbour water is used in district cooling systems, former industrial structures have been given additional public functions, and selected neighbourhood projects are designed to manage heavy rainfall. Denmark has also set a national target of becoming independent of fossil fuels by 2050.
The building and construction sector accounts for 40% of global CO₂ emissions. The projects featured here illustrate individual approaches to urban space, construction materials, energy use and rainwater management in Copenhagen.
Facts: City devolopement in Copenhagen
- Denmark has set a national target of becoming independent of fossil fuels by 2050.
- A new district cooling system in Copenhagen takes cold water from the harbour and saves 70% of the energy vs traditional air-conditioning.
- From 2005-2022, DKK 1 billion has been invested in cycle lanes and cycle superhighways. 45% of Copenhageners cycle to work or school every day.
- Copenhagen Harbour is used for recreational swimming.
- In 2022, 68% of Copenhagen’s hotel rooms hold an eco-certification as a total of 58% of the capital’s hotels are certified with either a Green Key, an ISO certification or The Nordic Swan ecolabel.
Selected architecture and urban development projects
Superkilen: public space developed with local residents
Superkilen in Nørrebro was designed by BIG, SUPERFLEX and Topotek 1. The public space was developed with input from local residents and contains 99 objects from more than 50 countries, including Chinese signs, a Thai boxing ring and Moroccan fountains.
For more information read here.
Multi-use spaces
Rooftops are used to create leisure spaces, long after the workers in the offices below have left for the day. This utilises space without the need for more buildings and improves local areas by making spaces that are in use all day. Examples are Østergro, Denmark’s first urban farm, which sits on top of an old car auction house; Konditaget Lüders, a playground and gym on the top of a multi-storey car park; and CopenHill, a ski slope, hiking trail, bar and meeting space on top of an industrial power plant. For more information read Østergro, Konditaget Lüders and CopenHill.
Timber buildings
Copenhagen-based architecture practices Henning Larsen and Cobe use timber in projects in Denmark and abroad as an alternative to concrete construction. Henning Larsen Architects is currently building one of the country’s largest timber buildings, a multi-use office building for the Danish pension fund, AP Pension, in the formerly industrial area of Nordhavn. For more information read here.
Rainwater management in Østerbro
Klimakvarter in Østerbro develops and demonstrates new initiatives to help with increasingly common heavy downpours and cloudbursts, along with other climate issues. The project includes streets and landscaped areas that direct rainwater towards the harbour, as well as courtyard gardens with rain beds, water columns or storage tanks. It is now a mandatory requirement for all new urban development projects to design spaces to accommodate heavy downpours. For more information read Klimakvarter.
The UN City building
UN in Copenhagen was designed by 3XN. The building uses rooftop solar panels, a rainwater collection system for toilet flushing and a seawater cooling system. It received the highest LEED certification and the European Commission GreenBuilding Award in 2012. Guided tours are available. For more information read here.
Press photos
Download a selection of pictures related to architecture in Copenhagen. The photographer must be credited.
