Energy islands with minimal environmental impact

25. October 2021

Energy island with minimal environmental impact

Solution provider

Great architecture evokes great passion. For us, this is the kind of architecture that contributes to solving the challenges we face today. The kind that creates sustainable development, vibrant and diverse cities, beautiful and future-proof structures as well as inviting urban spaces and landscapes for all to enjoy. Working out of our office in Copenhagen, we strive to create architecture that understands, connects and enriches the whole world. Together we create cohesion.

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Our architects and landscape architects have aided water construction experts from DHI A/S in developing a concept for the construction of energy islands with the smallest possible negative impact on the surrounding marine environment.

Challenge

Based on parallel development of construction methods and design as well as interdisciplinary collaboration, Gottlieb Paludan Architects and DHI A/S have designed an island that is built mainly of sand, which is typically found in large quantities on the seabed. In addition to sand, the proposal uses groynes as coastal protection which makes it possible to design an island that is part of the natural marine environment with beaches, dunes and underwater rock reefs that provide new habitats for flora and fauna.

Solution

By mimicking nature and using raw materials already available on site, the transportation and processing of materials is minimized. This is also an end-of-life benefit where the island could be reused for other purposes or disposed of with minimal impact on the natural marine environment.

The development project is based on a unique approach that perceives marine forces, such as waves and tides, as external opportunities that can be used to maintain artificial beaches – in contrast to the traditional approach, where the marine environment is considered a problem generator. In other words; we work with nature, not against it.

Result

The approach, which is also called ‘soft engineering’, “reduces negative impact on the environment and creates more sustainable solutions as compared to hard engineering projects, such as building sea walls, groynes and other structures”, says Dr. Nicholas Grunnet, Head of Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics at DHI.

The proposal is an example of something we are particularly good at in Denmark, and that the world around us is looking for: Uniting industrial infrastructure, landscape and architecture through integrated visionary design and interdisciplinary thinking. GPA and DHI are further developing the concept for marine environments around the world.

Client: DHI
Year: 2021
Location: The North Sea
In collaboration with: DHI