URBAN LAB EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

AMAGER STRAND

2018 COASTAL RESILIENCE Published by Ramboll /S

September, 2018 Climate Adaptation and Landscape, Ramboll Water

COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 CONTENTS

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT...... 4

THE URBAN LAB 2018...... 7

THE COPENHAGEN LENS...... 11

AMAGER STRAND...... 16

CONCLUSION...... 31

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND & CONTEXT FOREWORD

Denmark has a very strong water sector known Rambøll, 8 young and international professionals for innovative partnerships and cooperation. The spent 10 days in the City building concepts for links between water management and urban storm surge protection in Amager Strand. planning are strengthening and integrated planning approaches are increasingly applied. Both urban labs have been successful in Joint efforts across traditional planning corridors providing input and perspective on climate are provoking a transformation towards more adaptation to the City, and in providing capacity liveable cities. building to the young professionals and across the local and global water sector. Our aspiration Copenhagen is a great example of such efforts is to organize an Urban Lab every year leading up with city-wide strategies, catchment specific to the conference in 2020, thereby challenging cloudburst masterplans and co-created projects and inspiring the path towards water-wise at the local level. In 2020 Copenhagen will host communities, capacity building both locally and the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition internationally, and connecting the water sector under the theme Water for Smart Liveable locally, internationally, and across generations. Cities. The conference will gather thousands of professionals passionate about water and This executive summary presents the provide an opportunity to showcase the nordic background, setup, process, findings and approach to building resilient communities and conclusions from the Copenhagen Urban Lab for mutual knowledge-sharing. Key in securing 2018. It is prepared by the team and reflects their a sustainable water future is our workforce of understanding of challenges and solutions. We tomorrow. The urban lab supports both! hope,that their ideas will inspire Amager Strand, the City and beyond, and that their process The Copenhagen Urban Lab 2017 was organized and learnings will serve as inspiration for other and led by Rambøll, co-hosted by the City cities and young professionals. I would like to of Copenhagen and supported by different congratulate the entire team with an innovative organizations in the Danish water sector. 6 and impressive outcome and to complement young professionals from around the world them on their extraordinary effort, collaborative spent 10 days in the City working on cloudburst skills, drive and openness throughout the management and Skt. Jørrgen’s Lake. entire process. I look forward to continued collaboration towards 2020 and onwards! A similar setup made the Copenhagen Urban Lab 2018 possible. Jointly funded by the City of On behalf of the entire Copenhagen Urban Lab Copenhagen, the Utility for Greater Copenhagen 2018 organizing team, (HOFOR), the Young Water Professionals (YWPDK), Vand i Byer, Kamstrup and Trine Stausgaard Munk

IWA WORLD WATER CONGRESS & EXHIBITION COPENHAGEN 2020

photo by Arlen Stawasz

4 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 BACKGROUND & CONTEXT STORM SURGE IN COPENHAGEN

The City of Copenhagen is ranked as one of the city protection scheme for Copenhagen. . most liveable cities in the world and also aspires Until the vision of the plan is established, it is to become one of the most resilient. recommended to investigate the potential of implementing short-term local initiatives, which In 2011 Copenhagen published a Climate can be established within a short time frame and Adaptation Plan, which documented the City’s prevent damages during smaller storm surges. exposure and vulnerability to climate changes, including sea level rise and storm surge, today and in the future. A risk assessment estimated the potential consequences, which included the Freeboard for waves disruption to the City’s district heating system, two wastewater treatment plants, and certain sections to the City’s railway network. This combined disruption has the potential to cause between DKK 7.3 - 11.8 billion (USD 1.13 - 1.83 1000 year storm surge billion) over the next 100 years if the City “does nothing” to build storm surge protection. This assessment prompted the City Council to order a Storm Surge Plan, November 2016.

In 2017 the City of Copenhagen adopted the Sea Level Rise

Storm Surge Plan, which specified an outer 2015 2050 2100 Illustration of methodology for assessing the protection level for storm surge in Copenhagen

SHORT TERM LONG TERM

Low-hanging fruits - Potential of implementing Storm surge protection 2017 - Potential of short-term local initiatives which can be implementing long-term local initiatives which established within a short time frame and prevent provides protection to a level equivalent to a damages during smaller storm surges up to 2.20 1000 – year storm surge in 2100 as defined in the meters at Amager Strand. Storm Surge Plan. This means protection to 2.6 m at Amager Strand.

+ 2.20M SEA LEVEL RISE STORM SURGE

COPENHAGEN

Sea level rise and storm surge //Stormflodsplan, Københavns Map of the outer barrier in Copenhagen //Stormflodsplan, Kommune, 2017 Københavns Kommune, 2017

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT CHALLENGE In cities, space is a limited resource and a limiting factor for storm surge protection. So how do we balance the inevitable need for climate adaptation with the constraints of a city?

The focus of the Copenhagen Urban Lab 2018 options cities have for coastal protection, is the balance between functions, quality, and beyond a traditional flood wall or levee? storm surge protection on limited space, and • How can short term strategies be integrated was inspired by questions such as: with long term strategies?

• What should coastal protection look like in The Copenhagen Urban Lab team 2018 was the future? challenged with producing two overall • How can coastal protection mechanisms outcomes: improve the liveability and quality of a city? • What is currently best practice storm surge Tool protection for cities? A tool or catalogue of storm surge measures • How does these practices vary across the focusing on recommendations in relation to globe and how can they be applicable in planning and design approaches to materials, Copenhagen? multi-purpose, implementability, financing, etc. • How can playing with materials, design and implementation help unfold the variety of Design Application of the tool or catalogue on the case area of Amager Strand, selected by the City, to build a high-level conceptual design for the site, to meet both short term and long term sea surge risks.

For 10 days, the Urban Lab 2018 team worked with the City to learn about its history, its present, EXTREME HEAT and its vision for the future. They developed two outcomes, a tool (the Copenhagen Lens) and a conceptual design (a new social waterfront for Amager Strand), which they will present on the following pages. Enjoy!

CLOUDBURSTS

SEA LEVEL RISE DENMARK’S CLIMATE CHALLENGES DENMARK’S CLIMATE

STORM SURGE

CPH URBAN LAB FOCUS 2018 CPH URBAN LAB FOCUS 2017

6 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 THE URBAN LAB 2018 PROGRAMME

coastal adaptation is not simply a technical We began our journey listening and learning challenge, but equally a social one. And soon we from a fantastic array of presentations from were faced with the unshakable question: landscape architects, urban planners, and “How do we, in the face of climate change, want engineers from local consultancies, the City to use our coastal areas?” of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and the region’s major utility This question defined our design journey and HOFOR. Ramboll introduced us to the basic delivered the ‘Copenhagen Lens’, a stakeholder understandings of storm surge planning, engagement tool that provides a pathway for including considerations to decision-making municipalities to develop a guiding vision for on protection levels and risidual risk as well as coastal adaptation. The challenge on creating applying multiple protection lines and building the tool was largely experienced at the beginning phased pathways for incremental protection of the program when we were immersed in over time. design process. After the Copenhagen Lens was conceptualised, the process of refining it Below, a shortened version of the overall and applying it to the case study area (Amager programme is presented. Strand) was an enjoyable process of creation and discovery (albeit a very time constrained Reflecting through these talks and our own one). experience, we quickly came to realise that

Copenhagen Urban Lab 2018 - overall programme

5th Arrival - Welcome & introduction

6th Climate adaptation in Copenhagen

7th Design processes, materials and decision-making

8th Building the catalogue

9th Communicating the catalogue

10th Storm surge protection in Amager Strand

11th Building the concepts

12th Building the design

13th PRESENTATION - City dialogues & stakeholder input

14th Wrap up & next steps

photo by Soledad Roman

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 THE URBAN LAB 2018 TEAM MEMBERS

Each team member was carefully selected from the many applications received based on individual profiles and the overall, constellation of the team, consisting of eight young professionals. Together, we covered the academic areas of landscape design, architecture, urban planning, water management, socio-economics, awareness-raising, flood protection design and innovation. IRMA PETA HAI ANH NGUYEN Lund, Sweden Kenya & Vietnam Education and awareness Urban Planning PLINES & G SCI EO DI G S RA S P O R IE 1 Urban Planner S A 1 Education and awareness 2 Water Professionals 1 Architect 1 Socio-Economist 1 Flood Protection Design & MELVIN SOLOMON STEVEN BUCK Innovation Entrepreneur Philippines Melbourne, Australia Water professional Water Professional 1 Process & Institutional Design

Young 8 Professionals

We worked in a range of styles across the program, as a team, but also in sub-groups and ARLEN STAWASZ ANDREW BUCK Boston, USA New York, USA individually when appropriate. It was entirely Architecture Socio-economics up to us to figure out the most effective and productive working strategy, and also to learn and have fun along the way.

We brought our individual experiences to the Lab to help make this dynamic and diverse group perform!

SOLEDAD ROMAN BRITTANY MEECE London, UK Boston, USA Flood Protection Process & Institutional Design

8 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 THE URBAN LAB 2018 TEAM DIVERSITY

EDUCATION + AWARENESS

FLOOD PROTECTION URBAN PLANNING

WATER PROFESSIONAL SOCIO-ECONOMICS PROCESS + INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN

ARCHITECTURE WATER PROFESSIONAL

COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 photo by Lars Angantyr

photo by Soledad Ramon photo by Arlen Stawasz

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9 THE COPENHAGEN LENS A NEW METHOD FOR COASTAL PLANNING The challenge of coastal adaptation is not a technical one, but a social one.

After listening to a wide variety of presentations traditional coastal planning process, producing from a diverse set of stakeholders, the Urban an outcome that: Lab team agree, that the challenge of coastal adaptation is not merely a technical one, but • does not serve the needs of the region/city, a social one. Successful and timely planning, • does not consider multiple time horizons or design, and implementation of coastal the strategy’s life cycle, protections requires enabling regulations and policies, community awareness of climate • does not improve the resiliency of an area, change risks, public and political buy-in, and • does not achieve potential synergies to strong partnerships and coordination between other plans and provide urban quality agencies.

It is important that the process of deploying TRADITIONAL COASTAL PLANNING coastal strategies is performed in a collaborative manner so all interests, whether social, economic, 1. Understand the coastal system or environmental, are considered and balanced 2. Assess the future in the future management of these areas. 3. Evaluate the risks However, a systematic methodology has yet to 4. Decide if action is required be developed to capture various interests and priorities to see the development of holistic 5. Plan and design coastal solutions. Typically many interests, 6. Implement opportunities and synergies are lost in the

WE SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

SOCIAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL

10 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 THE COPENHAGEN LENS A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TOOL

In order to address these common pitfalls, we Inspired by the informative presentations from developed the Copenhagen Lens. The Lens can experts across the City of Copenhagen, the be applied to traditional planning processes Urban Lab Team summarized their findings into and guide physical and non-physical solutions, five values for each of the pillars of sustainability speak to local context , and offer a platform (social, economic, and environmental). These for collectively exploring and defining different values were also compared to the United visions of coastal protections. This tool builds Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals a common language across diverse groups, (SDGs), and were vetted by the team internally encourages a documented and transparent – utilizing the knowledge, experience, and process, and consolidates many different various perspectives of their international and perspectives into a strategic direction. The multidisciplinary expertise. The focus was that Lens increases awareness and collaboration, the application of the lens would also help allows discovery of synergies, and integrates contribute to the SDGs. stakeholder values into coastal solutions. As a result, it leads to cost-effective and multi- The Lens is designed to be flexible enough to functional approaches to coastal adaptation. relate to local contexts worldwide, to be used with a variety of stakeholders throughout The Lens is a visual tool that provides a method planning, design, and implementation, and to be for capturing, understanding, and balancing the used as a facilitation tool for both internal and set of present and/or future core values unique external discussions. This includes gathering to a coastal region. These values are then used input for planners and designers, acting as a to guide the coastal adaptation planning and communication tool between technical experts, design process for a holistic outcome. serving as a strategic planning tool for decision- makers, engaging with community members The Lens is structured in the form of a Ven and the public, and communicating between Diagram between the three broad principles agencies and partners. of sustainable development: Social, Economic, and Environmental. Each of these principles are represented by five core values, which serve to aid the local application of the Lens.

The Lens supports the SDGs THE LENS DELIVERS:

INPUT STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION GATHERING FOR PLANNING TOOL BETWEEN PLANNERS AND FOR DECISION AGENCIES AND DESIGNERS MAKERS PARTNERS

COMMUNICATION ENGAGEMENT TOOL BETWEEN WITH TECHNICAL COMMUNITY EXPERTS MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11 THE COPENHAGEN LENS BUILDING A COMMON LANGUAGE

The social principle is based on concepts that support the betterment of society. It encourages stakeholders to reflect on the value of communities and their importance for overall health and well- being. It promotes values that support community SOCIAL cohesiveness through celebrating diversity and advancing levels of community communication, education, and participation. It also seeks to enhance a community’s sense of place through cultural integration and shared ownership.

The economic principle captures concepts that support equitable, viable and effective solutions for a prosperous and sustainable coastal economy. It encourages stakeholders to reflect on the importance of creating long-term economic value out of whatever decision or project is being undertaken, ECONOMIC while considering the other aspects of sustainability. It promotes financial mechanisms to guide “smart growth” such as land use planning, reclamation, subsidies and/or tax breaks for sustainable development.

The environmental principle refers to concepts that protect and restore our natural ecosystems and resources. It encourages stakeholders to reflect, respect and appreciate our natural life support systems, their ecological limits, and see that they are ENVIRONMENTAL maintained, restored and integrated in any decision or project. It also looks to support and harness ecosystem services for their overall long-term functionality and benefit.

12 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 HEALTH & WELLNESS Create spaces that allow people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, physically, mentally and culturally

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP Develop interventions for communities, with communities.

Enhance transparent communication and WORKING TOGETHER societal groups.

FOR EVERYONE (AND EVERYTHING) Consider the needs and preferences of different groups in the society.

COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING Raise awareness and build community literacy.

Support economic activities and ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS community services for greater employment opportunities.

INVEST IN THE FUTURE Proactive investment leading to lower costs into the future.

ENABLING ACTION Economic structures incentivize stakeholder buy-in and contribution.

Activation of underutilized spaces to PLACEMAKING create unique branding and stimulate economic interest.

ACCESSIBLE COAST Supporting shared use of public spaces and accessibility along coastal areas.

Respect coastal ecosystems and seek to NATURE FIRST maintain and restore.

Thoughtful initiatives that harness THRIVING WITH WATER ecosystem services for community benefit.

CONNECTION & FEELING Support human exploration, interaction, and learning of environmental processes.

CLEAN AND HEALTHY Inspire people to nurture nature and protect the quality of shared spaces.

Promote a circular economy: refuse, AIM FOR ZERO reduce, reuse, and recycle. Support low impact development.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 13 THE COPENHAGEN LENS APPLYING THE LENS

The Lens can be offered in several media depending on need; from a facilitated workshop using a physical ‘disc’ to a virtual and interactive tool. Regardless of the media used, the Lens requires carefull facilitation/curation to guide the conversation between stakeholders and reinforce the interdependencies between core ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL values and principles that are highlighted by the visualization. GUIDING LENS For example, in a small group of internal stakeholders, a facilitator could ask each participant to select their most important values and ‘swing’ them into the central area of the lens, then asking them to share with the group their reasons for doing so. Taking turns to do the ECONOMIC same with each participant, the facilitator would guide several rounds, until a consensus on a set of core values is made, and thus becomes the focus of the project at hand. FRAMEWORK For a larger group setting, the facilitator could The overlap between the principles take a similar approach with break-out groups, represent the interdependencies or use technological voting devices or apps that can co-exist between them to reach a consensus on values. The Lens and how one value can deliver on could be applied mutiple times with different more than one pillar. stakeholders, collecting general core value outputs throughout the process. The central intersection of the three pillars represent the unique ‘Lens’ that balances the values of sustainability.

The lens is an output of collaboration Use the lens to guide strategies

The Lens Process: Core values from the three pillars are selected to develop a unique ‘lens’

14 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 THE COPENHAGEN LENS APPLYING THE LENS

The Lens provides guidance towards physical interventions that are incorporated into planning, design, or construction as well as non- physical strategies such as social programmes, 1. Understand the coastal system regulations, and policies, or communication strategies. Because the Lens is mostly qualitative. it requires thorough documentation . Assess the future of the discussions, insights and outcomes. Once 2 documented, the outcomes must be organized and distributed as planning and implementation of coastal strategies continues. For this purpose, 3 Evaluate the risk the Lens can also be used iteratively to help share previous insights. 4 Decide if action is required To ensure the applicability of the tool, we tested it on the coastal site of Amager Strand, selected by the City as the case area for the Copenhagen 5 COPENHAGEN LENS Urban Lab 2018. The design process was informed by the Lens to ensure coherence between the design ideas, inspirational applicability, and to Plan and design update any lessons learned in the design process 6 back into the Lens. 7 Implementation “SERVING SUGGESTION”

Internal use 1. Consultation (internal stakeholders) 2. Create lens output(s) 3. Develop preliminary design ideas

External use 1. Consultation (wider community) 2. Create lens output(s) The following section describes how the Copenhagen Lens was conceptually applied to Amager strand.

Physical ‘disc’ prototype of the Lens

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 15 AMAGER STRAND CASE STUDY AREA

The study area is located in the south of green stretch along parts of the east coast of Copenhagen. Amager Strand is protected from Amager, the value of views, relationship with high waves from the constructed barrier island green spaces, beach, park and sea are key of . The location of the aspects. coastline makes this area vulnerable to storm surges. Amager Strandpark is to be protected to:

Amager Strand is the area on the land side, 1. Ensure the area remains as a recreational behind Amager Strandpark. beach. 2. Maintain the general public’s right to access As noted in the Storm Surge Plan 2017, the and make use of the. beach area. storm surge protection of the east coast of 3. Secure the area as part of the regional Amager must be linked to the existing planning system of green areas, especially the coastal and urban development in the area, including green areas along Øresundskysten. cloudburst planning, with several cloudburst 4. Ensure that Denmark’s national obligations roads ending at or around Amager Strand. The to protect nature are respected.

photo by Arlen Stawasz

photo by Arlen Stawasz

16 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 AMAGER STRAND HISTORY The visions for Amager Strandpark were relatively quickly. The project was based on an formulated in the early 1980s by local grassroots open dialogue with various stakeholders: focus and various stakeholders. Openness was to be the groups, interest organisations and local users predominant quality in the area, and the beach were involved in a continuing effort to develop line was to be moved further out to form a better the project’s qualities. beach. The area was to be a lively landscape for human activity. The gap between the new area Today, Amager Strandpark is fully finished with and the existing coast was to be maintained in jetties, islands, promenades, paths, dunes, green the form of lagoons serving as protected areas areas, beach stations, etc. In the southern and for water activities. Over a period of 20 years, central areas of the “Strandpark”, a number local and regional authorities were involved to an of specially designated areas are available for increasing extent and the necessary plans were further development, are now under ways. prepared and adopted. Once the 200 million Danish kroner had been allocated, the beach http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2013/01/amager- could be designed, planned and established beach-by-haslov-and-kjaersgaard/

COPENHAGEN

AMAGER STRAND

image from Google Earth

Overview of area around Amager Strand

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AMAGER STRAND A NEW WATERFRONT

Aerial image courtesy of Google Images 18 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 AMAGER STRAND

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 19 AMAGER STRAND SITE APPROACH THE SITE AMAGER STRAND

STORM SURGE

PROTECTION M

METRO CONNECTIVE CORRIDOR

NATURPARK AMAGER

Aerial image courtesy of Google Images

Overview of the area surrounding Amager Strand and the different connections

Amager Strand is located on the east coast as well, as experiencing it first hand generated of Amager. Access to this area is currently the team’s rigorous understanding of the culture dominated by the vertical transportation links and context. (train, and metro lines and bus services) that connect with central Copenhagen. The proposed design intends to encourage horizontal movements as well as the integration of the surrounding neigbourhoods.

The Lens provides a strategic vision for the study area, including the inputs from the stakeholders and consolidating a way forward in the design approach. The selected values of the Amager Strand Lens were applied in a sensitive manner with regards to existing physical and non- physical attributes. This led to three distinctive areas, that together capture all the values important to the region, see page 22.

Our team tested the Lens in Amager Strand and determined the community core values by being site specific. The team measured the values through research and analysis with key stakeholder interviews including the local city government. They also played a game simulated by a local artist that developed the hearth of this photo by Arlen Stawasz approach. Visiting the site informed this process

20 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 AMAGER STRAND THE STORM SURGE SOLUTION

The figures below show the estimated flood extent for a 2.6 m storm surge (including sea level rise) and scenario before and after the implementation of the proposed flood defences described in the next pages. The figure on the left represents the existing situation at Amager Strand where there is no protection against storm surges. It can be observed that without protection hundreds of properties will be flooded due to storm surges causing severe personal and material damages and costing million of DKKs in this area. The proposed design intends to solve this problem through the implementation of different lines of protection adapted to each area. The figure on the right shows the flood extent in the study area once the storm surge protection defence of 2.6 m is implemented.

Below is a conceptual rendering of the potential design outcomes utilizing the Lens as a driving force for coastal planning and adaptation measures.

Sea Level at +2.2 meters photo by Arlen Stawasz

Without Protection With Protection STORM SURGE AT 2.6 METERS

map from Scalgo Aps map from Scalgo Aps

“Do Nothing Scenario”

WITHOUT PROTECTION WITH PROTECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 21 AMAGER STRAND THE CORE VALUES

NATURE FIRST HEALTH & WELLNESS

CONNECTION FOR EVERYONE & FEELING (AND EVERYTHING)

ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL VALUES VALUES

ENHANCING PLACEMAKING LIVELIHOODS

ECONOMIC VALUES

The Amager Strand Lens

NORTHERN SECTION - Busy commercial area ECONOMIC

MIDDLE SECTION - Quiet residential area

ENVIRONMENTAL

SOUTHERN SECTION - Isolated area SOCIAL

Site Design + Programme Approach

22 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 AMAGER STRAND NORTHERN SECTION ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS PLACEMAKING

The area is located next to high density buildings and local businesses where eye level views are not a constraint. It is the main access to Amager Strandpark due to the proximity to the metro station. The elements of the design need to incorporate a good connection to the existing harbour and clear routes to other EXISTING CONDITION destinations in this area. This area has little shade or points of interest. The design of this section was driven by the two main economic values: of Livelihoods and Enabling Actions

The strategic design approach for this area encourages employment opportunities and allows private buy-ins and contributions.

OBSERVATIONS: ECONOMIC • High density environment • Close to metro • The gateway to Amager Strandparken • No shade • No wayfinding / connection to harbor

ECONOMIC LENS EMPHASIZED PLANNING FOR STORM SURGE

ENTRY PLAZA PARK COAST

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 23 AMAGER STRAND MIDDLE SECTION NATURE FIRST CONNECTION & FEELING

The neighbours living in this area appreciate views to nature and tranquillity. The design must respect and enhance the protected and fragile environment. It is a popular place to walk dogs. The design needs to include places for moments of pause as well as defined routes for pedestrian traffic. The EXISTING CONDITION design of this section was driven by the two main environmental values: Nature First and Connection and Feeling

The strategic design approach for this zone must respect the existing coastal ecosystem and encourage human exploration and learning of environmental processes.

OBSERVATIONS: • Protected and fragile ENVIRONMENTAL environment • Pedestrian traffic is dominating the space • Suffering from erosion • Dog-walking strip • No moments of pause

ENVIRONMENTAL LENS EMPHASIZED PLANNING FOR STORM SURGE

PARK WETLAND LAGOON BEACH

24 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 AMAGER STRAND SOUTHERN SECTION HEALTH & WELLNESS FOR EVERYONE & EVERYTHING

The area is suitable for noisy activities due to its location in front of an historical fortress and an office building. It is desirable to keep the existing grass space for social activities. There is no current interaction with water or places to sit down. The space is underutilized and not attractive enough for the everyday user. The EXISTING CONDITION design of this section was driven by the two main social values: Health and Wellness and For Everyone and Everything.

These values establish that the strategic approach for this zone must include spaces where people can enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle as well as spaces that consider the needs of different social and cultural groups.

OBSERVATIONS: SOCIAL • Space is used for events • No where to sit down • Social activities do not interact with the water • Not inviting enough • Space is underutilized • Room for activity/noise

SOCIAL LENS EMPHASIZED PLANNING FOR STORM SURGE

COMMONS CANALWAY BEACH

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 25 AMAGER STRAND EVERYDAY USE AND ACTIVITIES

ECONOMIC

ENVIRONMENTAL

SOCIAL

Aerial image courtesy of Google Images

26 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 SHELTER

EDUCATION + MEETING PLACES

ARTS + MARKETS

ARCHITECTURE + CAFES

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES + SPORTING CLUBS

RUNNING + CYCLING PATHS

WATER SPORTING ACTIVITIES

URBAN FARMING

NATURE WALKS

RELAXATION

CONCERTS

OUTDOOR CLASSES

ROCK CLIMBING

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 27 AMAGER STRAND DESIGN OUTCOMES

NORTHERN SECTION

The design of the northern section is focused not a main constraint. A specific space within on the economic values. It includes the design the protected side has been allocated to of a modern, wave-inspired structure that practice different sport activities as well as provides a new public space as well as storm competitions. surge protection. The new plaza connects vertically and horizontally providing a better In order to enhance the depressed ecosystem connection to the existing harbour and of this area, a realignment of the shoreline has Amager Strandpark. The top of the structure been proposed allowing water to enter inland is designed to integrate the movement of and creates a more interesting biodiversity. pedestrians and bikes. It also has spaces of pause and shades. Since the structure is The concrete structure is our line of protection elevated, it provides nice views. Restaurants against storm surges up to 2.6m in this section. and shops are located in the lower level to allow local people to create new businesses. Sport activities have been moved from the middle section to this area where noise is

MIDDLE SECTION

The design of the middle section is focused fragile ecosystem against foot traffic. It allows on the environmental values. It includes the for moments of pause and brings people improvement of natural wetlands, a protective closer to the natural ecosystems and water. dune system, and relocation of noisy activities The design can easily be changed due to the to the northern section in order to bring back morphology of the natural terrain and the tranquillity to this part of Amager Strand. improvement of the wetlands can help lower flood levels and decrease erosion. The proposed wooden footpath is designed taking into account the visual impact from The dune system and wooden footpath are the adjacent villas and with a water tight core our first line of prtection against storm surge that provides a line of protection for storm in this section. surges up to 2.6 m.

The wooden footpath will provide a clear path for walkers in this area protecting the

SOUTHERN SECTION

The design of the southern section is focused included in the lower right hand side. The on the social values. It includes a section with structure of the tower uses materials and concrete steps located in the water front colours which simulate the local trees. This that protect from storm surges up to 2.6m landmark will encourage people to visit the to provide protection for the long term. The area to enjoy the views from the top and will proposed protection can include decorative support an active lifestyle. rocks and vegetation to achieve a natural look. A foot bridge has been included to improve The concrete steps in the water front canal the interaction of people with water. and the multipurpose tower are our first line of protection against storm surge in this section. The green area is maintained for the celebration of important social events as well as for the enjoyment of the everyday users of the park. A tower with a rock climbing wall has been

28 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 AMAGER STRAND PROTECTION LINES

SHORT + LONG TERM PROTECTION LINE

SHORT + LONG TERM PROTECTION LINE

SHORT + LONG TERM PROTECTION LINE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 29 CONCLUSION WHAT WE LEARNED

The 2018 Copenhagen Urban Lab concluded The challenge of creating the tool was largely with a presentation and the publication of this experienced at the beginning of the program executive summary. The presentation stirred when we were immersed in design process. After great interest from key stakeholders involved, the Copenhagen Lens was conceptualised, the including members of the International Water process of refining it and applying it to the case Association (IWA). study area (Amager Strand) was an enjoyable process of creation and discovery. This executive summary was prepared to circulate the outputs of the program and Within this intense programme, each member communicate our experience. Our vision for the gained valuable experiences, new partnerships, program was to develop a tool that could assist and learned important lessons about coastal coastal communities adapt to the challenges of adaptation and human-centred urban design. sea level rise and storm surges. We hope that this executive summary gives an We began our journey listening to and learning overview of our process, learnings and outcomes from a fantastic array landscape architects, urban as part of the Copenhagen Urban Lab. We planners, and engineers from Rambol and other also hope that the lessons learned during this local consultancies, the City of Copenhagen, the programme will be applied to the next Urban Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and the Lab. We would like to once again express our region’s major utility HOFOR. great gratitude and appreciation to the hosts and sponsors of this event. We hope that we Reflecting through these talks and our own will be able to share our experiences with other experience, we quickly came to realise that and future Urban Lab participants and meet coastal adaptation is not simply a technical once again at the IWA World Water Congress & challenge, but equally a social one. And soon we Exhibition in 2020! were faced with the unshakable question:

“How do we, in the face of climate change, want to use our coastal areas?” Sincerely,

This question defined our design journey and The 2018 Copenhagen Urban Lab Team delivered the ‘Copenhagen Lens’, a stakeholder engagement tool that provides a pathway for municipalities to develop a guiding vision for coastal adaptation.

We would to give a special thank you to the following people:

Stine Maj Krigslund, City of Copenhagen Jes Clauson-Kaas, HOFOR Lykke Leonardsen, City of Copenhagen Thor Danielsen, HOFOR Tina Saaby, City of Copenhagen Chrstian Liljedahl, Illutron Anders Edstrand, City of Copenhagen Paul Høilund, NORRøN Villads Keiding, City of Copenhagen Christian Nyerup Nielsen, Rambøll Karen Lauritzen, City of Copenhagen Trine Stausgaard Munk, Rambøll Lars Anker Angantyr, City of Copenhagen Marianne Skov Rambøll Eva Christensen, City of Copenhagen Kai Kanafani, SBI Julie Skydstrup, DTU Anne Katrine Esbjerg, SLA Karsten Arnbjerg Nielsen, DTU Toke Panduro, Lotte Bjerregaard, DTU Kirsten Prisum, YWPDK

30 COPENHAGEN URBAN LAB 2018 photo by Ramboll

photo by Ramboll

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 31 “In order to solve complex problems, we need diverse perspectives - the Copenhagen Urban Lab brought together young multi-disciplinary professionals from across the globe to tackle storm surge, one of the greatest challenges in the history of mankind.”

CONTACT

Marianne Skov Trine Stausgaard Munk Flood Risk Specialist Head of Resilience Denmark North America

[email protected] [email protected]

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