GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE
FORM FOLLOWS NATURE IN COPENHAGEN’ S NEW CLIMATE PARK
Copenhagen’ s latest and most radical climate park, Grønningen- Bispeparken, transforms a barren grass area into a cohesive 20,000 m2 lush, playful, biodiverse, and art-filled urban nature park for all; where form follows nature and architecture’ s foremost task is to create spaces for life – all life.
The renowned Danish nature-based design studio SLA has transformed the 20,000 m2 of outdoor areas at Grønningen-Bispeparken, a 1950s social housing estate, creating Copenhagen’ s most radical climate project to date.
Located in Copenhagen’ s Nordvest neighbourhood( the city’ s most socially and ethnically diverse), the task was to transform the housing estate’ s outdoor areas from derelict, unsafe, and barren grass lawns into a new climate park that would secure the area against thunderstorms and flooding while also adding social, natural, and cultural values to the neighbourhood and its residents.
The new park design took the values and ideals of the original green areas, designed by legendary Danish landscape architect C. Th. Sørensen( 1893-1979), and updated them to meet the needs and aspirations of a modern city. The original green areas had fallen into unsafe disrepair with no activities, uses, or play areas for the local kids and residents. The existing grass lawn was unable to manage or contain rainwater – resulting in veritable‘ rainwater motorways’ during thunderstorms – while also being low on plant variation, wildlife, and biodiversity.
Bioswales and‘ social swales’ To address these challenges, SLA designed Grønningen-Bispeparken to be Copenhagen’ s most radical nature-based climate adaptation project to date.
By letting the form of the park follow the processes of nature, SLA created an interconnected series of 18 bioswales throughout the sloping green areas that can collect, contain, and infiltrate more than 3,000 m3 of rainwater falling in the park and the adjacent courtyards and streets.
The park features five main nature typologies designed according to their climate and social functions: the wet Bio Oases where nature and wildlife have the right of way; the small, dry biotopes Between the Trunks for intimate play and relaxation; the larger, dry Common Lawns for sports, farmers’ markets, community dinners, and events; the small, urban Pocket Squares for informal stay and socializing
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