As part of  the municipality’s Cloudburst Management Plan, the City of Copenhagen has initiated a large-scale climate adaptation project in the area around Kirsebærhaven, Urtehaven and Gl. Køge Landevej.

The project will relieve the sewer system by detaining everyday rainfall, which will be directed to rain gardens designed for a 10-year rain event. In addition, terrain adjustments will be established to ensure that cloudburst water continues to be conveyed towards Vigerslevparken without causing damaging flooding along the way, while newly established roadside planting beds will help to reduce vehicle speeds.

The City of Copenhagen has entered into a design-and-build contract with Scheller, Hougaard & Petersen, who are leading a specialized consultancy team consisting of MASU Planning ApS, INFRA ApS and Envidan A/S.

The team is already engaged in a series of workshops together with the City of Copenhagen and HOFOR.

Sune Oslev, Partner and Owner of MASU Planning, describes the project’s design ambitions:

“We are pleased to be able to contribute to protecting Copenhagen against cloudbursts. We are driven by finding the best solutions in collaboration with the municipality, HOFOR, Scheller, Hougaard & Petersen, INFRA and Envidan. Our ambition is to create a project that is simple to construct, easy to operate and maintain, and that adds recreational qualities to the urban environment.”

The construction site will be fossil- and emissions-free, as Scheller, Hougaard & Petersen will use HVO diesel and are exploring the use of electric machinery to reduce CO₂ emissions from the construction works.

The initial design phase is underway, while construction is scheduled to take place from August 2026 to the end of 2027.

Image text: Sune Oslev, MASU Planning, Marck Hviid Borning, SHP and Amir Bigdeli, INFRA. Photograph by Jakob Søndergaard Frederiksen (SHP).