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A new masterplanned project by Henning Larsen and MOE sets an example for how contemporary communities can coexist with nature. The winning entry in a competition launched by local development authority By & Havn, Fælledby will become the first district in Copenhagen fully built in timber.
Henning Larsen says the masterplan preserves much of the existing natural landscape, including wetlands and dry scrub that are currently home to insects, turtles, songbirds, and deer. The scheme takes cues from the rural village model, a concept of building in an open landscape that dates back 1,500 years in Denmark. Fælledby adopts the central tenets of that model, incorporating active street corners, green corridors and a dense city centre into the design.
"Deciding to build in the natural landscape around Fælledby comes with a commitment to balance people with nature. Specifically, this means that our new district will Copenhagen's first to be built fully in wood, and incorporating natural habitats that encourage richer growth for plants and animals," said Signe Kongebro, Partner at Henning Larsen. "With the rural village as an archetype, we're creating a city where biodiversity and active recreation define a sustainable pact between people and nature."
The masterplan is divided into three circular subsections to facilitate more intimate community experiences. Stretches of vegetation separate the three mini-villages—Henning Larsen compares it to small islands in a wild sea of green.
"Like the traditional rural village, the Fælledby masterplan stands for itself within an open natural landscape. This gives an opportunity to create an entirely unique setting and one that is especially sensitive to sustainable and natural priorities," said Kongebro. "We see a potential to build a new city that speaks to the sustainable sensibilities of the younger generations, to create a home for people seeking a solution on how to live in better harmony with nature. For us, Fælledby is a proof of concept that this can indeed be done."
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