Cowi and Rambøll picked to start expanding Copenhagen into the sea

Authorities in Denmark are planning a new island in the Sound off Copenhagen to expand the city’s footprint by 2%, and have picked Danish engineers Cowi and Rambøll to prepare for the project.

Hired by CPH City & Port Development, Cowi now has a $2.2m (DK15 million) contract for technical consultancy work, while Rambøll will produce an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for $451,000 (DK3 million).

Called Lynetteholmen, the new island between Nordhavn and Refshaleøen is intended to be home for 35,000 people. On its website, City & Port (By & Havn), has said construction could start by 2035. 

Cowi said it plans to complete its work in 2022.

"You always feel a certain respect when such big projects are launched – so to speak," said CPH City & Port Development technical director, Hans Vasehus.

He added: "Lynetteholmen will increase the total land area of Copenhagen by around 2 per cent and will act as climate protection against future sea level rises while also housing a completely new district. It is a historic project, and I am looking forward to kicking off the regulatory work and the project design together with our consultants."

Cowi will examine the design and location of Lynetteholmen.

Project manager Henrik Hostrup Pedersen said: "Right now, Lynetteholmen is an ambitious vision for a new and sustainable district, which will also form part of the necessary climate protection for the city. So it is also vital for us to incorporate sustainability from the outset and to involve all of the stakeholders who will help to assure the progress and success of the project."

Mikkel Tamstorf, Rambøll’s head of EIAs said: "We see the climate protection aspect with regard to future sea level rises as a key element in the development of the whole of Copenhagen in the coming decades."

Image: Visualisation of the new district, Lynetteholmen (CPH City & Port Development)