In 2000 the municipality of Copenhagen commissioned a development of the entire Copenhagen Harbour from three design studios. Henning Larsen Architects was commissioned to analyse the area defined by Knippelsbro and Tolboden and outline different alternative solutions.

The project envisions the water surface of the harbour as the floor and the sky as the ceiling, the “walls” were lacking to define the (harbour) space. Thus, it was recommended to establish large elements in the shape of buildings on each side of the harbour fairway at Kvæsthusbroen, Dokøen and Christiansholm, respectively.

Irrespective of function no building may “turn its back” to the harbour. On the contrary the buildings must compliment already defined plans of public promenades and squares along the entire harbour fairway with the purpose of stressing and strengthening previous initiated activities.

The large building volumes have at a later stage been concretised as the Danish Theatre’s new playhouse, the Opera and new building-up of Christiansholm awaits the expiration of current leases.