01. City Scale Dilemma
02. City Scale Strategies
03. City Scale Masterplan
04. Urban Strategies Axon
05. Refshaleøen Masterplan
06. Urban Transect
07. Adaptable Toolkit
08. Urban Puzzle Piece
09. Render #1
10. Render #2
11. Models
AQUA RECIPROCITY
A Responsive Paradigm for Ocean-sprawl Resilience



Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Time: Spring 2025

Type: Collaborative

Instructor: Dan Stubbergaard

Keywords: Landscape Urbanism / Climate Adaptation



Project Narrative


Over the past two centuries, Copenhagen’s extensive land reclamation has significantly transformed its marine environment, disrupting the delicate balance between shallow southwestern waters and deeper eastern seabeds that once supported diverse marine life. Expansion through cofferdam techniques has altered natural gradients, leading to habitat loss and ecological degradation. As urban development shifts eastward, former industrial zones transition into residential and commercial areas, often neglecting ecological considerations. Meanwhile, low-lying reclaimed lands face increasing climate risks, with projections indicating a sea-level rise of up to 1.6 meters by 2100, heightening the threat of flooding.

How can we mediate the tensions and fragmentation at all levels of society resulting from this unchecked expansion? WATER RECIPROCITY responds to these challenges by restoring harmony between urban development and the marine ecosystem while addressing the social and spatial isolation caused by ocean sprawl in Refshaleøen.We envisions a future where Refshaleøen thrives as a resilient, ecologically vibrant, and socially connected waterfront, setting a new paradigm for sustainable coastal urbanism.