copenhagen’s blue plan by tredje natur and PK3

‘blue plan’ by tredje natur and PK3, copenhagen, denmarkimage © tredje natur

copenhagen’s harbor, one of the few in the world to be clean enough to swim in, is in the process of undergoing a change that will be expectedto transform the marina into a recreational, educational and ecologically friendly area. danish firms tredje natur and PK3 have teamed up todesign the ‘blue plan’ which includes the construction of five artificial islands off the docks, accessible by traditional wooden jetties. the projectaims to improve its social significance by approaching three key issues: the water itself as an educational component and finding new ways inwhich people can interact with it, the edges created and the recreational possibilities between the dock and the islands, and finally the improved communication in, along, and across the harbor. this will be achieved through the five islets called the house of water, fugleøen (bird island), krøyers pøl, sportsøen (sports sea) and operaparken (opera park) which focus on establishing a unique relationship between the user, the harbor, and an activity.

‘house of water’image © tredje natur

possibly the most visually attractive island, the house of water but is made up of soft rounded concrete hills with several pools and baths createdin the grooves, but is charged with a much greater social agenda. based off of the idea that ‘the desire for a better reputation will not create a better country, but when you create a better country, it rubs off automatically onto its reputation,’ as stated by one of the world’s leading nation-brandingexperts, the house of water is based on the idea of educating the public on global water challenges and solutions. 

fugleøen (bird island)image © tredje natur

a green landscape in the middle of the harbor will take the user on a trip back in time to a place that ecologically mirrors copenhagen’s pristine environment before its settlement. bird island is a haven for nature and wildlife, created to attract native bird and fish species, to reinstate thebiodiversity that once existed many years ago. as tredje natur explains, ‘the island will be the ideal destination for bird lovers, anglers, seashell collectors, biologists, school classes to be taught in biology, history and geography and ordinary citizens who simply want to enjoy the possibility of the long afternoon.’

krøyers pølimage © tredje natur

the island will be located off the port near the world-famous michelin restaurant that specializes in nordic cuisine, and will showcase the sustainabilityinvolved around the water and the sea life in the harbor. the island will exist on the water’s surface, bringing the user to understand the threshold between water and air, with heated inlet pools and sauna caves that feature the interstitial state of water: steam. where bird island is built around the avian species,krøyers pøl instead aims to attract sea life.

sportsøen (sports sea)image © tredje natur

as the name implies, this will be a part of the feaux-archipelago that will revive the world of water sports in the harbor. it will be a haven for kayakers, swimmers, divers and winter bathers among other aquatic recreational activities in a safe environment out of the way of the larg sailing boat traffic.

operaparken (opera park)image © tredje natur

along the harbor’s edge is invisioned as a green area with outdoor opera and amphitheater and vegetative species impervious to the salty climate as an audible heaven with its sounds reaching far across the harbor. this island is one of the major components that connects the water’s edge to the inland zones, with direct connections through bike lanes, paths and roads to several of the cities areas, attracting people to the water.

siteimage © tredje natur

areas to rehabilitateimage © tredje natur

diagramimage © tredje natur

sectionimage © tredje natur

sectionimage © tredje natur

sectionimage © tredje natur

different activities based around waterimage © tredje natur

key to the water activities: relationship between the user and the waterimage © tredje natur