Considering the inevitable rise of global sea levels, the Danish design firm Studio Fokstrot coined the first “parkipelago” (a portmanteau of archipelago and park), a series of floating land masses in the Copenhagen harbor. Officially titled Copenhagen Islands, the landscapes were designed to revitalize the waterfront and recoup public space lost to urban development.
The studio explains the vernacular significance of the project “to renew the proud traditions of the Danish harbor life by strengthening the social cohesion and awareness of the maritime life in and around the harbor.” The project’s outdoor programming runs the gamut from boating, swimming, and kayaking to picnics and performances. Each zone is organized by season, with schemes clustered together around land and more dispersed throughout the water.
CPH-Ø1 is one of the first islands being developed on-site. Studio Fokstrot is experimenting with thin strips of wood, steel, and recycled boating material to construct the first 215-square-foot island with a single linden tree. As shown in renderings, other isles will accommodate more green space intended to propagate new marine wildlife. CPH-Ø1 won’t be alone for long—more islands will pop up by the end of 2020.
