Kalvebod Waves

Kalvebod Waves by Julien De Smedt Architects transforms a previously quiet stretch of Copenhagen’s inner harbour into an active public landscape on the water. Located at Kalvebod Brygge, opposite the popular Islands Brygge waterfront, the project gives the city a new urban counterpart to its established harbour life.

The design is organized around two main piers, positioned to make use of sunlight and shelter from wind. These platforms extend out over the water as generous public plazas, connected back to the city by bridges and walkways. Together, they create flexible spaces for everyday use, water sports, events, and gatherings linked to Copenhagen’s creative and cultural life.

The project’s distinctive geometry gives the harbour edge a new rhythm. Rather than treating the quay as a hard boundary, Kalvebod Waves folds it outward, turning the water into a place of movement, rest, play, and encounter. It has become a lively urban platform where the inner city reconnects with the harbour — and with nature as an essential part of Copenhagen’s public life.