Mere landskab
A Blue-Green Landscape first Strategy for the transformation of the Capital Region
The rapid urbanization and climate challenges facing the Capital region require a new strategic approach to spatial planning.
Centred on 5 core themes, the Fingerplan 2.0 sets a framework for a sustainable and resilient development across the region. In response, our vision, “A Blue-green Landscape first Strategy for the transformation of the Capital Region” places the natural environment at the heart of urban transformation. By prioritizing green and blue corridors, we create a resilient and climate-adapted transformations where nature, biodiversity, and social balance thrive together.
To secure a cohesive and future-proof development across the region, we propose the establishment of a regional planning agency, with a focus on both short , medium , and long-term planning needs.
The open landscape of the capital region cannot be the left over from planning bureaucrats! Everyone dreams of open nature and wilderness, yet, the reality is fragmented, poorly accessible and sorely lacks the bold identity of great nature parks!
Let’s develop a Park strategy for the capital region, let’s give substance and identity to the landscape that makes us dream but is the most vulnerable to today’s urban sprawl! Denmark has a goal of 25% of its land to be covered by forest by 2100, what a better location than next to where people live?
Based on the existing forest covers, wetlands, topography and ice age geology; the ‘natural’ landscape of the capital region will unite in a collection of 5 national parks. Copenhagen won’t be jealous of its Nordic neighbors anymore and will offer the right to roam in picturesque nature. The right to cut loose from the urban world on a true territorial scale! The region’s nature will finally be put back on its pedestal while supporting the recreational offerings a capital city deserves!
The Finger Plan tricked us, and our beliefs made the vast horizontal metropolis of today, a Città diffusa extending even beyond Greater Copenhagen. These sub-urban and peri urban areas can only exist today as the subordinates of the Capital city, prisoners to exponential car traffic!
Firstly, the establishment of a Net-zero urbanization policy is imperative. No more sprawl on bare land! Secondly, let’s offer every form of urban structure of the capital region a raison d’être (purpose) through a new paradigm of isotropy.
Fostering interconnections between all satellite towns and villages, assembled into one mesh, one constellation of more compact and vibrant urban centers! This ‘ecological-desakota’ supports decentralized movement patterns, reducing the stress on infrastructure and providing potential for new peri-urban sustainable mobilities and reduced commute needs! Ultimately a lace of soft mobility patterns over the entire region! Simultaneously providing services and social interactions through the development of its microcenters (mobility on demand, services for seniors, childcare, co-working, post, etc.). The dream for the eco-urbans who cannot afford the city anymore!
- Most commuting trips between fingers today.
- 25% of the capital region to be covered by forestry (16,5% today and currently declining!).
- Forest shelters stays have risen by 70% in the last 10 years.
→ Implement continuous ecological corridors across the entire capital region.
- 80% of urbanized land today is outside Greater CPH
→ Policies to densify & diversify microcenters.
→ Ban & prioritize commercial zones’ transformation.
→ Fast transit to sub-region capitals (Roskilde, Hillerød, Helsingør, Malmö)
The greater Copenhagen and its sub urban areas are in a situation of status quo, fueling grave segregation and the unstoppable rise of downtown housing prices! The greater Copenhagen area needs its own vision to break the status quo and lead the way to spatial justice! What if landscape was the super boost capable of such complex task?
Through the creation of a Chain of Parks, Copenhagen’s suburbs can now find their identity and take on the responsibility of the compact, 15min city. Here, we are not talking of the so called ‘grønne kiler’, the unformal green soup of unclaimed nature – a space lacerated by infrastructure. But an immanent landscape, aesthetically pleasing to the soul, it is a place to see, meet, swim, exercise, love and relax. It will mean the creation of landscapes that make Copenhagen suburbs significantly more meaningful, valuable, and livable. Even attracting tourists and hipsters alike! Moreover, the chain of parks will connect to the green fringes of the National Parks and ensure ecological continuity across the area.
After introducing a Net-zero urbanization policy we must see Copenhagen as a ‘renewable resource’. Let’s tap into it!
The future ring 3 light rail along with the chain of parks, provides the ideal framework for transformation and densification of large industrial and residential areas. Relying on existing and future stations, today’s uniform suburb, will become a constellation of 5-minute neighborhoods with diversity (functions, typologies, services, incomes, etc.) at their core. They will be sustained by policies enforcing a minimum of social housing, senior housing, or alternative form of housing among others, governed at the regional scale, ensuring a global coherence. Not only promoting the compact city but the balanced city as well. Moreover, all main roads/motorways entering the city, will mutate into green mobility boulevards from the Ring 3 and inward.
These future linear mobility parks - the length of today’s average bike rides on the Supercyklestier - are the only way forward in keeping the city livable and just, as we face the growing challenges of noise and air pollution.
- Existing green areas, low land areas (prone to flooding) and sport infrastructures are also used to be part of the Chain of parks.
→ Create a connected system of parks and the planning framework for a blue-green network at the scale of the greater CPH
→ Region-wide policies for 15min cities.
- Current density of the ring 3 municipalities is almost 5 times less than Copenhagen & Frederiksberg.
-50% of detached houses in Greater Copenhagen have 2 or less inhabitants.
→ Strategy to downgrade and transform urban motorways into linear mobility parks
→ Include quality criteria in the law for densification.
Copenhagen’s Finger plan 2.0 is calling for a new long-term vision, it is too late for a naïve resistance and a patch-like strategy! Let’s surrender and celebrate, let sea level rise or cloudbursts turn Copenhagen into an archipelago. Use coastal adaptation to create new coastal parks, cloudburst to make all roofs green and all streets blue. Re-open ‘rivers’ where the ground water is high or when transforming former industrial areas. Let’s penetrate the ‘parliament of things’, stop digging pipes and make the city a sponge. After all, dragonflies don’t live in pipes! As the climate transforms the city’s relationship to water, we must celebrate Copenhagen as a port-city! New industrial/logistic areas should be located on the sea, promoting sustainable short distribution channels with the city, its customers, or the airport. Rather than harmful landfills, new stilt like frameworks will work hand in hand with future coastal landscape adaptation nature reefs as well as providing new opportunities for celebrating the city’s identity through a myriad of new sea pools, saunas, marinas, sailing clubs, etc.
- 66% of the transport space in Copenhagen is allocated to cars when only 9% commute by car. Here is a spatial resource for climate adaptation.
→ New industry/logistics to partly finance coastal adaptation and the port-city vision.
→ Strong policies on Green Factor (Support green roofs, local water management).
2 - WHY AND WHERE TO DEVELOP?
Coast-to-Coast Wilderness: 5 National Parks
Our vision for the Capital Region is to create five interconnected, coast-to-coast nature parks. These parks will serve as the region’s vast recreational backyard, offering wild trails that traverse the peninsula from shore to shore. Each park will be shaped by its distinct local geography, giving rise to unique identities and diverse landscapes. Together, they will offer a rich tapestry of scenery and biotopes.
Afforestation and Re-naturalization in Support of the Great Parks.
In order to meet national climate, sustainability and biodiversity goals, land must be dedicated to these puproses. This means that agriculture will occupy less space, particularly in regions where natural biotopes—such as riparian zones along streams, rivers, and wetlands— offer greater ecological value. These areas are crucial for enhancing biodiversity, supporting ecosystem services, and building climate resilience. Aligned with guidelines from Miljømonisteriet, Center for Makroøkologi Evolution og Klima and others.
Blue-Green Corridors
The new network of parks and protected areas will form blue-green corridors that serve as essential habitats and biodiversity reservoirs. By fostering biodiversity in these natural areas, the corridors will strengthen future urban blue-green strategies, ensuring they remain connected to robust ecosystems.
Safeguarding the Aquatic Landscapes
A new region-wide policy is proposed to reduce the contamination of rivers, streams, and coastal waters. Since farmland is the source of over 70% of this pollution— further intensified by climate change. Green buffers will be implemented to mitigate the impacts of fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants on the environment, particularly water bodies. Ensuring clean, unpolluted waters, a fundamental right for both humans and wildlife.
A Prerequisite: The Regional Agency
Water and climate changes don’t respect juridical boarders. Therefore it is of essential importance to establish a Regional Agency dedicated to the sustainable development of the capital area is essential. This agency will ensure a balanced, cross-border approach to critical issues such as social equity, nature protection, climate adaptation, urban densification, and the development of public transport and infrastructure.
Where to Develop?
Net-Zero Urbanization: Containing Sprawl, Preserving Nature
To accommodate a growing population, evolving lifestyles, and a changing climate, the capital region requires a sustainable urban development framework. A Net-zero urbanization strategy is crucial to halting further urban sprawl and ensuring the preservation of natural areas and farmland.
Reinventing the existing built areas offers the greatest potential for new housing (also in term of types, modes, etc.) while ensuring proximity to workplaces, public amenities, and sustainable mobility options. Copenhagen municipality is nearly fully developed, with new projects often encroaching on vibrant creative and recreational spaces, not to mention rising housing costs. However, just beyond the municipal boundaries lie underutilized areas with access to public transport and expansive recreational spaces. Through The Regional Agency, there is an opportunity to reimagine the suburban landscape and tap into the resource of low-rise housing to meet future needs.
Prioritizing Transformation and Climate Proofing
Focusing on the transformation of the existing built environment is essential. Various urban fabrics represent unique opportunities for development: industrial areas (a) can be repurposed with an emphasis on recycling and blue-green infrastructure; centralities (b) can prioritize car-free spaces; suburbs (c) can adapt to climate challenges while accommodating new demographics; Ghetto neighbourhoods (d) can promote reuse and social diversity, while rurban (e) areas can enhance the experience of countryside living.
Agile Urban Forms: Embracing Diversity in Development
Inspired by the robust and collective nature of the traditional Københavner-Karré, future developments should integrate diverse building forms and typologies, following guidelines set by The Regional Agency. By building on the Karré’s proven strength while incorporating varied materials and finance models, we can effectively respond to climate and contextual challenges. As a one-size-fits-all approach will not meet the needs of our evolving urban landscape.
100% Recycled
To achieve significant transformation, we must adhere to a dual rule: 100% rehabilitation and/or 100% reuse of existing built structures. Additionally, any new construction should be designed for disassembly, enabling future reuse and promoting sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of the building.
Principles for Quality – Materials
The use of local traditional construction materials, such as brick and timber, enhanced by contemporary technologies, should be encouraged. These materials are not only historically significant but also indefinitely reusable. In addition to traditional materials, new biogenic building materials should be employed to support the local economy while resulting in a favourable CO2 footprint.
Principles for Quality – Urban Spaces
Development areas should incorporate green streets and squares, not just for sustainability reasons, but also to promote human scale, biophilia, seasonal changes, and aesthetic qualities.
Principles for Quality – Edge Zones
Edge zones should be thoughtfully designed to ensure a gentle transition between public and residential spaces. These areas must also provide sufficient opportunities for biodiversity and effective surface water management.
Principles for Quality – Inhabited Roofs & Flexible Lower Floors.
Inhabited roofs should be promoted, serving as spaces for both humans and/or biodiversity. They can provide alternative housing options like rooftop Kartoffelrækkerne, or collective spaces and rainwater detention areas for example. Additionally, tall lower floors should be designed to facilitate future reconversion between housing, retail, office, etc.
