A Vibrant Urban Space by Copenhagen’s Harbor
Krøyers Square is a centrally located and publicly accessible square in Copenhagen, seamlessly blending residential, cultural, and recreational functions. Surrounding a lively residential neighborhood, the square serves as a vital connection to nearby cultural attractions, landmarks, and cafés. Designed as a multifunctional space, it provides residents with a communal “front yard,” a recreational retreat within lush urban gardens, and an inviting environment for informal meetings and dynamic urban life.
The square is composed of six distinct spaces, each with its own character, yet all interconnected by pathways that create a cohesive, almost labyrinthine structure: The Avenue, a green corridor, links the area’s historic warehouses to newly built residential buildings. At the heart of the site is The Square, a welcoming arrival point and central meeting place that forms a transition between the quarter Christianshavn and Krøyer Square.
For those seeking tranquility, The Garden offers a lush and intimate retreat where plants emerge from cracks in the surface, creating a sense of quiet immersion in nature. The Terrace, a raised platform, provides sweeping views of the harbor and the city, while The Promenade offers a long, linear connection to Copenhagen’s harbor, with a recessed wharf and uninterrupted views along the quay. Finally, The Wharf brings people closer to the water, featuring seating areas, bathing facilities, and docking opportunities for small boats, while The Viewpoint, a raised, prow-like structure, invites reflection and contemplation with panoramic harbor views. Together, these spaces create a unique and flexible public realm that encourages a variety of activities while ensuring a strong sense of cohesion.
At Krøyer Square, the design carefully addresses the challenges posed by urban water management and extreme weather. By integrating Local Rainwater Management (LAR) solutions, the square efficiently handles surface water while safeguarding the underground parking facilities and nearby buildings from flooding and storm surges.
The raised landscape not only prevents water intrusion but also shapes the space into a functional and inviting environment. The terrain elevation serves as a natural defense, while an elevated driveway provides additional protection, ensuring that Krøyer Square remains accessible and enjoyable, even during challenging weather conditions. These features emphasize the balance between practicality and environmental considerations, ensuring the space is prepared to meet contemporary urban demands.
A Contemporary Take on Industrial Heritage
The design of Krøyer Square reflects its industrial past while embracing modern functionality and aesthetics. The use of in-situ cast concrete paving with wide grass joints evokes the rugged character of the former harbor site, while custom-designed furnishings inspired by the Euro pallet—reimagined in high-quality oak—offer a contemporary nod to the area’s history of transport and trade.
Planting throughout the square enhances biodiversity and reinterprets the wild, spontaneous vegetation that once thrived in the abandoned site. This careful integration of greenery softens the urban environment, creating a harmonious balance between hardscapes and softscapes. Krøyer Square is also part of Havneringen, a 13-kilometer walking and cycling route that weaves through Copenhagen’s inner and southern harbor, connecting the square to the city’s larger recreational network.
Project Data
Landscape architecture: LYTT Architecture
Other collaborators: Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects & Cobe Architects
Project location: Copenhagen, DK
Year completed: 2020
Photo credits: LYTT Architecture
