The future Sankt Annae Plads – greener and with flood protection
A rain garden on the waterfront
The entire Sankt Annae area is undergoing renovation. This includes Sankt Annae Plads, Kvaesthusgade and the eastern section of Nyhavn. The renewal project creates a beautiful link between the city and the harbour.
bustling and colourful Nyhavn with its many bars and restaurants. And on the other, the beautiful and meticulously planned Frederiksstaden; a landmark in European architecture history.
Sankt Annae Plads sits between two historical sections of Copenhagen: on one side, the
The main feature of the renewal project in Sankt Annae Plads is to expand the green garden space.
New trees supplement the existing trees, extending the row of trees to the Kvaesthus Basin. The green space may be further expanded once car parking in the square is eliminated. The square continues to have one-way traffic for cars, with a narrow lane that is shared by cyclists and cars. This lets the cyclists set the pace. The pavements are expanded to
about 6 metres in width. The space along the facades will have room for outdoor cafĂŠ/restaurant seating, bicycle parking and benches. The rain garden will include flower beds, a pĂŠtanque court, benches and chairs. The area will also have playgrounds for both younger and older children.
Kvaesthusgade
Nyhavn East The eastern section of Nyhavn’s sunny side is renovated. The renovation largely continues the principles applied in the rest of Nyhavn and uses Nordic granite from the facades to the edge of the pier. The elimination of parking spaces makes room for outdoor seating for bars and restaurants. This section too includes climate change
Both sides of Kvaesthusgade will have new pavements in Nordic granite, and a row of trees is planted along one side of the street. This aims to make the street a more appealing shortcut for the cyclists and pedestrians going to and from Kvaesthuspladsen and along the harbour. The trees also play a role in relation to extreme downpours,
as they are planted in depressions capable of capturing large amounts of water to form temporary streams that drain into the harbour. The space in between the trees in KvĂŚsthusgade will be used to establish new parking spaces for some 50 bicycles.
measures. The paving in Nyhavn extends all the way to 71 Nyhavn Hotel, where it meets the dark, grooved concrete paving used in Kvaesthuspladsen. The number of bicycle parking spaces is increased both in Nyhavn East and near the Royal Danish Playhouse.
Recreational storm water solutions Managing rainwater runoff has become a new quality of life parameter in the urban space. The old city needs to adapt to accommodate altered climate conditions, which include more extreme precipitation. These alterations also add new
recreational facilities to the urban space. Sankt Annae Plads is lower than its surroundings, including the edge of the wharf. In the cloudburst on 2 July 2011, this led to considerable flooding in
the area. To address this issue, large rainwater drains are installed throughout the square as part of the renovation project. The drains lead some of the rainwater into the harbour. As a further measure, the square is bowl-shaped, and the trees are
planted in a depression. In case of extreme downpours, this depression and the entire square turn into a river bed. This leads the rainwater runoff down towards the Kvaesthus Pier and via underground rainwater canals into the harbour. Similarly, the paving in both Kvaesthusgade and Nyhavn East is designed to capture large amounts of rainwater in streams that drain into the harbour.
runoff from roofs and pavements
road runoff
road runoff
purified before drainage into the harbour
rainwater runoff in pipes
rainwater runoff in rain garden
purified before drainage into the harbour
runoff from roofs and pavements
rainwater runoff in pipes
Throughout, the project involves systematic efforts to combine technical flood protection solutions with quality improvements of the urban space. This maximizes the positive impact of the investment for the City of Copenhagen and its residents.
The future in and around Sankt Annae Plads 1
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Sankt Annae Plads The urban space becomes greener and wider. The row of trees is extended to the Kvaesthus Pier. The pavements are expanded, with room for outdoor seating for cafĂŠs and restaurants.
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5 Traffic The traffic design accommodates pedestrians and cyclists. Narrow lanes on both sides of the square ensure low speed and traffic safety. Primary access to the underground car park is via Toldbodgade.
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Room for play and exercise The playground is designed for young children. Older children and adults can challenge themselves in the adjacent activity area. Or relax in one of the many chairs in the square.
Perennials Perennials are added to the sunken rain garden with room to walk among them or sit down on the grass. Blue scillas make a flower-specked ground cover in spring.
6 Entrance ramp to the car park The row of green trees continues past the entrance ramp to the underground car park.
4 Storm water protection Water from extreme downpours drains into the depression between the tree rows. From here it is led into the harbour via underground pipes.
7 Kvaesthusgade Kvaesthusgade becomes an attractive link for pedestrians and cyclists. The new row of trees is interspersed with new parking spaces for bicycles.
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8 Nyhavn The eastern section of Nyhavn is renovated in the same style as the already renovated sections. The granite paving meets Kvaesthuspladsen’s dark, grooved concrete paving at 71 Nyhavn Hotel.
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Vision and exhibition Vision • Creating a more coherent area and a high-quality architectural expression • Making room for a diverse urban life and the necessary traffic • Ensuring climate adaptation measures that work in extreme downpours and which otherwise have a recreational expression
Kvæsthusselskabet’s exhibition pavilion In our yellow pavilion you find an exhibition on the Sankt Annae and Kvaesthus Projects. The pavilion also serves as a project office. You are always welcome to stop by and ask questions. We look forward to welcoming you. You can read more about Kvæsthusselskabet’s exhibition pavilion and our opening hours at www.kvaesthusprojektet.dk.
Timetable
January 2012 – May 2012
Proposals for future urban life in the area.
May 2012 – August 2013
Programme and planning proposal.
September 2013 – July 2014
Project proposal, application processing, main project and bidding.
August 2014 – December 2015 Storm water management and paving, Sankt Annae Plads.
January 2015 – June 2015
Surfacing, Nyhavn East and the southern end of Kvaesthusgade.
August 2014 – September 2014 Surfacing, northern end of Kvaesthusgade.
The Sankt Annae Project is developed and funded by Realdania, the City of Copenhagen, the Copenhagen utility company HOFOR and the following private donors: • Augustinus Fonden • Oticon Fonden • 15. juni Fonden • Lauritzen Fonden • Jeudan Construction is coordinated and carried out by Sankt Annae Selskabet. The funding for Sankt Annae Plads, Kvaesthusgade and Nyhavn East is in place, while the funding for Strandstraederne is pending.
To ensure a harmonious design solution, Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects act as the lead consultants for the design of the Sankt Annae area. Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects designed the Royal Danish Playhouse as well as Kvaesthuspladsen and its underground car park. The landscape architects Schønherr have created the overall architectural and urban expression and act as project consultants for the Sankt Annae Project. The total budget for the Sankt Annae Project is around DKK 125 million. Of this amount, storm water protection accounts for some DKK 45 million. Read more at www.sanktannaeselskabet.dk
The Sankt Annae Project has a steering committee with representatives from the City of Copenhagen, HOFOR, Realdania By and Realdania.
Sankt Annæ Selskabet Kvæsthusgade 10 1251 Copenhagen K Telephone: +45 70 11 66 66 info@sanktannaeselskabet.dk www.sanktannaeselskabet.dk
Cover photo: Søren Svendsen Illustrations: Schønherr and Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects Layout: Make® Print: ArcoRounborg A/S