Copenhagen is not new to floating architecture, the accommodations of BIG and the artificial islands of Urban Power are two of the most remarkable examples. Here, even in such difficult moment like the one the entire world is facing right now, they stay focused and keen to find new solutions to enjoy public spaces, of course respecting social distancing. 


 


The "Parkipelago" project was presented by architects Marshall Blecher and Magnus Maarbjerg of Studio Fokstrot: a public park divided into small floating islands in the port of Copenhagen. The first floating island prototype, called CPH-Ø1, was completed in 2018: a 25-square-meter wooden platform with a lime tree in the center, which hosted picnics, a photo exhibition and several conferences.





The idea is to add 3 more islands to this by the end of the year, to be installed in the south port of Copenhagen. They will be built by hand in the shipyards of the city port with the traditional boat building techniques and the use of recycled materials from sustainable sources. They will have different shapes and sizes and will be covered with meadows and trees.





"During the summer the islands can be distributed in unused parts of the port, acting as an adventurous escape due to the increasing amount of kayaks, sailors and users of the port coast," reads the site. "During the winter and for special events or festivals, the islands can be brought together to form a super-continent, more easily accessible from the port side." "The intention is to renew the proud traditions of Danish port life by strengthening social cohesion and awareness of maritime life in and around the port," said Studio Fokstrot. "The activities and functions of each island are flexible, depending on its location in the port and the time of year. Users of the islands will dictate their actual use and functions," added the company.





Some ideas for the future put forward by the team include saunas, gardens, floating farms and sail in cafes. Thus the islands of Copenhagen aim to create infinite possibilities for fun activities and daily explorations to be built on the harbor.





"The project was launched to create greater attention to a better port environment, climate change and rising water levels - some of the biggest problems the world is facing today." In the global context, all these factors create new challenges for urban environments, not only in Denmark. Recently, Powerhouse revealed a floating office building in Rotterdam and Carlo Ratti Associati proposed a floating garden that brings an alternative mobility system to the Swiss city of Lugano.  

Sources: Copenhagen Islands, Marshall Blecher,Mir.no