Courtyard:
Nattergalevej
Photo: Nadia Horsted
Site
Nattergalevej 54,
2400 Copenhagen NV
Open
Saturday and Sunday 10-17
Accessibility
- Hoist / ramp / level access to the front door
- Level access in the building / site (no stairs)
- Level access to outdoor areas
- Lift
- Accessible restroom
- Locked doors can be opened from the outside in case of emergency
- Chairs or benches to rest on
- Possible to eat / drink
- Disabled parking
- Teleloop
- Member of Solsikkesnoren
- Member of God adgang
Come and experience a brand new courtyard from 2022 in the “Bird Street Neighborhood” of Copenhagen’s Northwest district. See the lush courtyard that brings the wilderness to the city while providing a range of smart rainwater solutions for managing the cloudbursts that are becoming more and more common.
Nattergalevej offers a prime example of how plenty of nature can find its way into a long, narrow city courtyard, incorporating an integrated rainwater solution to boot. The courtyard is the result of a collaboration between the City of Copenhagen and the utility company HOFOR and was designed by landscape architects MASU, who also designed the fantastical park at the new Hans Christian Andersen museum in Odense.
On Nattergalevej, rainwater from the roof is reused in washing machines and incorporated into the courtyard’s landscape. The rainwater tank can hold 40 cubic meters, while the courtyard itself can hold around 288 cubic meters!
Water Flows through the Courtyard like a River
How can there be room for that much water? All along the courtyard’s meandering park path, a series of ditches and rainwater beds act as reservoirs to slow down the rainwater runoff.
And instead of asphalt, brick paths are used to lead the water in the right direction. The rainwater beds are planted with a variety of grasses and plants, in addition to the courtyard’s 46 new trees and various bushes and perennials.
Secret Pathways and Little Bridges
The playground is made from natural materials, and the secret pathways and wooden bridges across the water are a hit among young and old alike. The terrain in the courtyard is quite varied, creating several alcoves. In one half of the courtyard, a large round bench can be used for festive gatherings.
During Open House, you can take a walk through this brand new courtyard and perhaps find some inspiration for how water might be incorporated into your own garden.
