marshall blecher & studio fokstrot unveil a system of floating islands for copenhagen

marshall blecher & studio fokstrot have unveiled a system of floating islands for copenhagen that seeks to provide a new type of public space for the city’s harbor. designed as a sort of parkipelago, the copenhagen islands will be open and free to be used by boaters, fishermen, kayakers, stargazers, swimmers, or just anyone that wants to be outside.

all images by mir

the copenhagen islands by marshall blecher & studio fokstrot are an ecosystem of their own and feature endemic plants, trees and grass above the water, providing a habitat for beds and insects. underwater, anchor points give seaweeds, fish and mollusks a new home. the islands offer a constantly changing, generous green space in the center of the city, hinting at a new type of climate resilient urbanism. the floating structures are inherently flexible in their use and use materials that are both sustainable and recycled.

for the construction of the copenhagen islands, traditional wooden boat building techniques will be used. they will be moved seasonally between underutilized and newly-developed parts of the harbor, catalyzing both life and other activities.

the first prototype island CPH-Ø1 was first launched in 2018, becoming immediately a popular feature in the harbor and winning many design prizes. the 25m2 platform features a 6m linden tree growing at its center and was constructed by hand using traditional wood techniques in the boatbuilding yards of copenhagen’s south harbor.

the copenhagen islands is a not-for-profit initiative supported by københavns kommune and og havn and den gode havneliv.

project info:

name: copenhagen islands

design: marshall blecher & studio fokstrot

aerial photographs: airflix

visualizations: MIR