COPENHAGEN ISLANDS BY MARSHALL BLECHER AND STUDIO FOKSTROT INTRODUCES WILDERNESS AND WHIMSEY TO THE CENTRE OF COPENHAGEN

The project introduces a new archetype in urban space to the city’s harbour; a “parkipelago” of floating islands, open and free to be used by an increasing number of boaters, fishermen, kayakers, stargazers and swimmers. The islands reintroduce wilderness and whimsey to the rapidly gentrifying harbour, with endemic plants, trees and grasses above and anchor points below providing a habitat for birds and insects, seaweeds, fish and molluscs. the islands offer a constantly changing, generous, green space in the centre of the city. The project also hints at a new type of climate resilient urbanism, inherently flexible in its use and only using sustainably sourced and recycled materials.

The islands will be constructed by hand in the boatbuilding yards in the south habour of Copenhagen using traditional wooden boat building techniques. They will be moved seasonally between underutilised and newly developed parts of the harbour, catalysing life and activity. The first prototype island ‘CPH-Ø1’ was launched in 2018 and became a popular feature in the harbour, moving from place to place, hosting part of a photography exhibition, a series of talks and many seaside picnics. The prototype will be followed by three more islands to be launched in 2020, CPH-Ø1, CPH-Ø2 & CPH-Ø3 with plans for even more in the following years.

Copenhagen Islands was awarded the taipei international design awards for public space and the award for social design, It was a finalist in the Beazley design prize at the London Design Museum and has just been announced as a finalist in the Danish Design Prize. Copenhagen islands is a not for profit initiative started by australian architect Marshall Blecher and Danish Design studio Fokstrot, it is supported by københavns kommune, by og havn and den gode havneliv.