KBHØ1

The clear waters of the inner city harbor in Copenhagen is something very unique to this city and is being enjoyed by thousands of people every day. But with the fast developing waterfront construction and housing expanding to all corners of Copenhagen harbor, the public areas are threatened. Big concrete blocks are replacing many of the green and open areas of the harbor and the developers are so focused on exploiting every square meter possible for profitable housing that they seem to forget the recreational and democratic areas.

Copenhagen islands aim to give back to the citizens of Copenhagen the public space that has been lost in the fast development of the waterfronts of the harbor. KBHØ1 is a pilot project for a whole archipelago of floating islands scattered around the harbour supporting various functions such as a floating sauna island, floating gardens, floating mussel farms and a floating diving platform would make up a mobile ‘parkipelago’ free to be explored by the growing number of kayakers, boaters, and fishermen in the harbour.

The island is a small, 20m2 hand-crafted wooden platform with a 6m tall linden tree at the centre. The Island will move around the harbour over the next year, free for anyone to use for fishing, bbq’ing, camping and swimming. It will also host small events at different locations. A simple and iconic metaphor for an uninhabited island that intends to give its spectators and visitors a thought-provoking experience

“The islands could be brought together in the wider parts of the harbour for events and festivals or moved to catalyse life and activity in some of the newly developed and underused parts of the harbor. We have already felt a big interest, especially from inhabitants in some of the newly developed housing areas” says one of the heads behind the idea, Australian architect Marshall Blecher a Copenhagener for little over five years.