Many older suburban housing areas are affected by their sewers and drainag-es aren’t built for the more frequent cloudbursts and extreme rainfalls. Fortunen, an area of townhouses, were experiencing these problems.

The housing development Fortunen in Lyngby consists of 94 townhouses built in the post-war period. 1:1 Landskab designed a new landscape project that diverted rainwater locally, so that the rainwater is disconnected from the sewer in the area.

1:1 Landskab designed a landscape project that improved climate-adaptation of the housing area. Bypassing the old sewers, the rainwater was retained on site. From roofs, to the pipes, to the roads, the rainwater was lead to green areas and ditches where it seeped down in a natural pace.

A patch of grass behind the housing area got turned into a beautiful field of wild flowers, chosen for their ability to thrive in both dry conditions and when the rainwater builds up.

“We were in a situation where we had worn asphalt and poorly working sewers, so we decided find a beautiful solution, now that we had the chance to. We had a good process that included the residents wishes. This resulted in a solution with respect for the area that utilized the natural waterflows” says Meta Dam, resident at Fortunen

Now, all the rain that falls on roads and roofs is channelled over to the new and improved green areas, easing the pressure on sewers and drains. The local biodiversity has gotten a boost and the residents have gained new tranquil, beautiful, and lush green outdoor spaces to relax and socialize. Fortunen shows how 1:1 Landskab can future-proof your common areas and infrastructure on a local scale while at the same time improving the quality urban spaces in a dense residential area.