Nordhavn

The transformation of Nordhavn (North Harbor), the largest metropolitan development in northern Europe, continues Copenhagen’s historic strategy of a step-by-step expansion into the surrounding sea. The project is conceived as an urban archipelago or a series of dense neighborhoods on the water. Planning one island at a time, the Nordhavn master plan is not an ideal city vision, specifying every last detail, but rather a robust and flexible guideline intended to inspire future generations of urban planners. It is a way of addressing one of the great challenges of city planning: Designing for the needs and demands of today while trying to predict and address the major environmental challenges shaping our future.

In just 40 years, this former industrial harbor will become a vibrant waterfront city providing homes for 40,000 inhabitants and workspaces for another 40,000.

The origins of Nordhavn date back to the late 19th century, when Copenhagen expanded its harbor northward to meet the growing demands of trade and industry. The project was realised as a series of islands growing out from the city center. In 1891, the first stage of the Free Port development was initiated.

Following World War I, the harbor expanded further with the creation of Nordbassinet, Redmolen, and Sundmolen (the North Basin, the Roads Pier, and the Sound Pier). These areas, now being reimagined for urban life, were gradually shaped by the addition of smaller islets up until the 1930s, forming the structure that defines Nordhavn today.

The master plan’s structural concept builds upon this historic logic of reclaimed land and water. By breaking up the harbor space into intersecting canals and basins, new islands of varying sizes are created, giving the district a clear identity rooted in its maritime past. Water becomes a defining element—both surrounding and weaving through Nordhavn—creating intimate, human-scaled neighborhoods while preserving a connection to the sea.

Designed as a city of soft mobility, Nordhavn prioritizes walking, cycling, and public transport over car use. The green loop, an elevated bicycle expressway, connects the individual neighborhoods and links the area directly to the rest of Copenhagen. Across the islands, diverse urban typologies come together to form a vibrant and inclusive district. The urban grid is carefully oriented to capture sunlight and reduce wind exposure, ensuring that Nordhavn becomes a truly livable waterfront community for generations to come.