Nordhavn park will add a 30-hectare coastal landscape at the northeastern tip of Copenhagen, offering space for quiet, sport and nature while preserving existing habitats.
The City of Copenhagen and development company By & Havn selected the winning proposal, with construction expected to begin in 2028 subject to political approval and financing.
Nordhavn park: what the coastal design includes
The winning scheme, called Nordør, is led by Team SLA with partners VITA Ingeniører, Urban Agency, Aaen Engineering, Pihlmann Architects, Buro Happold, Kerstin Bergendal, Holdbart and Aiming Spaces. The design works with the site’s industrial topography rather than replacing it, creating varied terrain while keeping interventions simple to protect rare species.
The plan features sandy beaches, lagoons, meadows, woodland edges, and marine stone reefs, alongside football fields and outdoor sports facilities. A network of wooden piers, paths and boardwalks will connect activity zones with quieter areas for contemplation. The layout aims to balance biodiversity and recreation in a single, continuous public landscape.
Following political approval in autumn budget talks, detailed design and public dialogue will proceed, with groundworks anticipated in 2028. The park’s main entrances will be reachable from Nordhavn via the M4 metro; the planned extension to Ydre Nordhavn with two new stations is scheduled to open in 2030, improving access for residents and visitors.
Nature-positive goals and industrial legacy
The concept prioritises a nature-positive approach—enhancing habitats on land and in the harbour—while acknowledging the area’s working-port context. Gentle earthworks, noise berms and planting will frame sports areas; wilder zones toward the northern tip are reserved for flora and fauna. The design preserves traces of Nordhavn’s maritime past to anchor the new park in its harbour setting.
Competition field and next steps
The international competition shortlisted five teams; the municipality notes that one proposal was deemed ineligible during evaluation. The winning entry includes a base park already financed by By & Havn and outlines an optional supplementary park (tillægspark) with added facilities—such as changing rooms, shelters, birdwatching towers and SUP/sea-swimming lanes—should further funds be secured. Next steps include political adoption of the winning scheme as the basis for design, stakeholder engagement and operational funding.
Why it matters for Copenhagen
Nordhavn park expands access to blue–green space in a fast-growing waterfront district often cited in European urban planning debates. The project aligns with Nordic priorities on public health, active mobility and climate adaptation, while responding to calls for more everyday nature in dense cities. Its delivery will be a test of how Scandinavian capitals integrate biodiversity and recreation at metropolitan scale.
If delivered as planned, Nordhavn park will become one of Copenhagen’s largest parks, stitching together coast, sport and wild nature. The timetable—political approval in 2025, works from 2028, and improved metro access by 2030—will determine how quickly residents can use the new coastal landscape.
