A harbour of opportunities

The City of Copenhagen is developing the old industrial harbour with recreational oases and new residential areas

The City of Copenhagen wishes to spotlight the enormous pervading potential in the recreational development of the Harbour of Copenhagen. Many new developments have taken place in the Harbour in recent years, and lots of new projects are currently in progress. Even so, there is still plenty of room for many more new ideas and recreational activities.

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The challenge

Over the recent years, the port of Copenhagen has been abandoned by many major industrial companies. This provides a unique opportunity for new initiatives to develop a more welcoming and recreational harbor.

Our goal is that more people will use the green and blue areas in the city and that they stay for longer. This also largely applies to the harbour, where there is an enormous potential for more and improved activities.

Our approach

The vision A Harbour of Opportunities focuses on the harbour’s potential as a recreational urban space and reflects on what it takes to unfold this potential.

  • A Harbour of opportunity focuses on eight themes:
  • More activities in the harbour
  • Better access to and from the water
  • More public spaces by the water
  • Better routes and connections
  • A clean and welcoming harbour
  • A harbour with a healthy balanced nature
  • Events and temporary projects
  • Variation and room for diversity

Case: Portable dipping zones in the harbour

A portable dipping zone creates a safe and movable area where people can get into the water. They can help develop the use of the harbour, test new bathing zones and be established temporarily in connection with events and the like. The dipping zone is located at Kalvebod Bølge and is publicly available

The dipping zone was created in a collaboration between Sharing Copenhagen in the Technical and Environmental Administration, the Culture and Leisure Administration and Fokstrot, supplier of innovative design, production and craftsmanship.

Case: Floating community center in Nordhavn

The main purpose of the house is to act as unifying common rooms for the associations in Nordhavn IF. The building consists of 152 indoor square meters with meeting room, toilet and bathing facilities, sauna, and changing rooms. The building is made of natural materials and designed by Spektrum Architects.

The house cost DKK 11.4 million and is funded by City & Port, the City of Copenhagen and The Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities. City & Port is the developer, and the City of Copenhagen has taken ownership. The operation of the house takes place jointly with the affiliated associations.

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City Plans and Social Housing