A new floating urban district in the East Basin
Location
Østbassinet, Denmark
Timeline
2026 - ongoing
In 1901, the East Basin was a dense and bustling harbour area, teeming with ships, workers, and constant movement. The basin formed part of Copenhagen’s industrial lifeblood, where trade, craftsmanship, and maritime activity created a vibrant and productive waterfront.
The proposal outlines a new floating urban district in the East Basin that re-establishes a direct and meaningful connection between the city and the harbour. Once an active commercial port, the area now appears inactive and disconnected from both city life and the water. Recent waterfront projects in Copenhagen are typically elevated three meters or more above the water surface, creating a physical and experiential distance from the harbor. Instead, this project is based on floating architecture that maintains proximity to the water and strengthens the sensory and spatial relationship with it, while remaining robust and adaptable to flooding and rising sea levels.
A large floating promenade forms the project's backbone, linking to existing cycling and pedestrian routes while creating a series of public spaces that activate the basin. The proposal also includes a harbor bath inspired by the historic bathhouses that once characterized Copenhagen’s waterfront, featuring a 50-meter open-air pool and a 20-meter covered pool housed in a courtyard-style building with saunas, changing facilities, and restrooms.
The development comprises 11 floating residential buildings with a total floor area of approximately 10,000 m² and around 120 housing units ranging from 50 to 100 m² in size. Boat moorings are integrated around the development, and a continuous 13-meter-wide passage is maintained to ensure access to existing berths and allow smaller vessels to navigate around the area. The project examines how a well-designed floating neighbourhood can bring new life, activity, and identity to the harbor.
