Location: Denmark
Year: 2021
The Courtyard of the Future is located in a residential complex at Straussvej. It is one of the three rainwater management demonstration projects under the Copenhagen Climate Adaptation Plan. It demonstrates the new potential for managing stormwater in everyday urban spaces.
A group called the “Courtyard Board” has been established to organise various social events for residents living in different housing associations. These events include collective dinners, barbeque parties, and other gatherings, which aim to foster a sense of community and encourage neighbourly interactions.
Through the project, residents were invited to participate as co-creators of the courtyard, resulting in a strong sense of local ownership. The project has also led to new collective initiatives and collaborations, providing opportunities for residents to engage in garden work, participate in playdates near the lake, and collect fruits from the edible garden, among other common interests.
The Courtyard of the Future was created through a collaborative innovation process involving residents from three housing organisations. Despite having no prior connection, these organisations worked together during the project. Additionally, a courtyard board was established through this project to organise shared dinners, barbeque parties, and other social events for residents from different housing associations.
Rather than simply channelling the water into the drainage system, the rainwater is redirected and showcased on a feature known as “The Climate Wall”. This encourages children and locals to interact with the water in multiple ways, such as playing with small boats that can be propelled by the water’s movement.
The design of this project follows a circular approach and utilises recycled construction materials, including repurposed concrete, old pavement, waste wood utilised for the wooden decks, and recycled windows for the greenhouse. During the renovation process, these materials were repurposed and given new roles rather than creating new materials. This reduced the emission of high levels of CO2 into the environment.
The central area of the courtyard is situated inside a low, encircling wall known as “The Climate Wall”. This area comprises a lake, leisure and recreation zones, kitchen gardens, and water games. During heavy rainfall, the basin inside The Climate Wall is filled with rainwater collected from the courtyard and rooftops. This helps prevent water overflow into the sewage system and reduces the risk of flooding in the city’s basements.
Image Attribution: ©BOGL