Sun in Nordhavn
To say that Nordhavn is a big addition to Copenhagen might be a bit of an understatement. The first sunny day of the Spring (it's been a cold winter even by Scandinavian standards) provided a welcome excuse to explore Nordhavn by bike.
The master plan competition was won by COBE architects in 2008. From this master plan, a series of nested competitions have ensued; first for master-planning entire islands, then for the individual buildings within each island. From this, innovative projects such as JaJa's Park'N'Play and many silo reuse projects have emerged. The scope of this development will take 40-50 years to be fully completed.
On the ground, away from the infinitely scalable digital models, the scale of the Nordhavn takes on a visceral dimension. With construction radiating outward from the city fabric, the first islands are in flux - construction sites sit between new apartment blocks and shipping warehouses, capturing the transformation of Copenhagen from its post-industrial past. Even in these early stages of Nordhavn construction, the most expensive apartments in Denmark are located in this area.
Moving further away from the city center construction activity drops off quickly, giving way to container ports, more shipping warehouses, and a remarkable amount of open land. From the density and life of Copenhagen, its surprisingly still in Nordhavn. And, if the wire fences were removed the area could be quickly mistaken for a wildlife or bird refuge. A familiar site from Seattle, the subway lines under construction soar through the air only to end abruptly, facing off with the inevitably warehouse in their path.
On the northernmost tip, the landscape is most in flux. Vast areas of sea have been walled off and are being reclaimed, ingeniously, with the spoils from the metro excavation going on in the city. From this furthest point of Copenhagen, the foresight and scale of the ambitions of Nordhavn are manifested. Compared to the construction rush of South Lake Union and Seattle, the foresight and ambition of Nordhavn crystallize. Creating and integrating an entirely new neighborhood into a city grid is a huge challenge is shaping the future of Copenhagen.
The master plan competition was won by COBE architects in 2008. From this master plan, a series of nested competitions have ensued; first for master-planning entire islands, then for the individual buildings within each island. From this, innovative projects such as JaJa's Park'N'Play and many silo reuse projects have emerged. The scope of this development will take 40-50 years to be fully completed.
On the ground, away from the infinitely scalable digital models, the scale of the Nordhavn takes on a visceral dimension. With construction radiating outward from the city fabric, the first islands are in flux - construction sites sit between new apartment blocks and shipping warehouses, capturing the transformation of Copenhagen from its post-industrial past. Even in these early stages of Nordhavn construction, the most expensive apartments in Denmark are located in this area.
Moving further away from the city center construction activity drops off quickly, giving way to container ports, more shipping warehouses, and a remarkable amount of open land. From the density and life of Copenhagen, its surprisingly still in Nordhavn. And, if the wire fences were removed the area could be quickly mistaken for a wildlife or bird refuge. A familiar site from Seattle, the subway lines under construction soar through the air only to end abruptly, facing off with the inevitably warehouse in their path.
On the northernmost tip, the landscape is most in flux. Vast areas of sea have been walled off and are being reclaimed, ingeniously, with the spoils from the metro excavation going on in the city. From this furthest point of Copenhagen, the foresight and scale of the ambitions of Nordhavn are manifested. Compared to the construction rush of South Lake Union and Seattle, the foresight and ambition of Nordhavn crystallize. Creating and integrating an entirely new neighborhood into a city grid is a huge challenge is shaping the future of Copenhagen.
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