A facelift for an artificial beach in Denmark

An artificial beach in Denmark’s been given an upgrade - reconstructing and protecting the popular beach park in a Copenhagen suburb.

VEGA landskab designed the 1.900 m2 development which has transformed the Hvidovre Strand beach into a larger and improved recreation area.

Hvidovre’s beach was built upon an old landfill which had been developed over the past 100 years, but the sea was gradually eroding the added sand, leading to the leaching of landfill waste into the water. A massive amount of seaweed was also accumulating because of the layout of the beach.

The new edging was inspired by the natural ruffles of white cabbage. Photo credit - Naja Viscor.

VEGA’s project involved extending the sand area of the beach, creating a new path through the field, and building a new concrete edge between the sand and the grass-covered landfill area.

Sculptor Karin Lorentzen helped to design the new edge, which was inspired by the natural ruffles of white cabbage. This terrain support wall is a site-specific landscape artwork, both poetic and functional. It’s a perfect height for seating and visually merges the beach and meadow, but also secures the landfill from leaching into the beach, and is designed to accommodate predicted future water-level rises.

Sculptor Karin Lorentzen helped to design the new edge. Karin also supplied this photo.

The beach has always been incredibly popular with families, so VEGA landskab has expanded it so that the sandy area nearly covers the entire coastline between Hvidovre Harbour and Mørtelrenden. A new playground has also been included for children to enjoy.

VEGA landskab’s project has provided new terrain and a path along the water’s edge at Hvidovre Strand, defining the beach area and creating more space for recreation at this unique metropolitan beach.

The metropolitan beach is widely used. Photo credit - Naja Viscor.