Skip to content

Audio Version

See more about

More info

Location
Randers, Denmark

Year
2020-2024

Area
83 ha

Client
Randers Municipality and Vandmiljø Randers

Architects and Landscaping
C.F. Møller Architects

Engineering
WSP Denmark

Contractor
Jakobsen & Blindkilde

Collaborators
Geo

Photography
Peter Sikker Rasmussen

Award
1st prize in architectural competition, 2017

Content edited by Dima Fadel
© urbanNext

Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark

C.F. Møller Architects

A radical flood defense system conceived by C.F. Møller Architects in central Denmark integrates urban planning, climate change adaptation, and nature conservation, transforming the Danish city of Randers into a model for future cities.

Randers is known for its river, the Gudenåen, a favorite spot for walking and canoeing. However, its low-lying position makes it vulnerable to flooding, a risk exacerbated by climate change. In response, the city of Randers, in collaboration with the local utility service Vandmiljø Randers and C.F. Møller Architects, launched the Storkeengen (Stork Meadow) project. This ambitious initiative aimed to protect Randers from floods while enhancing the natural environment.

Stork Meadow © Peter Sikker RasmussenStork Meadow © Peter Sikker Rasmussen

Rainwater runoff from roofs, car parks, and roads in Randers is channeled through “cloudburst routes” and filtered through the water meadows, which function as purification basins before flowing back into the GudenÃ¥ River. Redesigned roads and drains prevent water from building up in areas where non-porous surfaces impede natural drainage. By transforming the threatened grasslands into wetlands, C.F. Møller aimed to create an “architectural multi-tool” that enhances the natural environment, reduces the flooding risk to the town, and provides a new nature park for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Diagram Stork Meadow © CF Møller ArchitectsDiagram Stork Meadow © CF Møller ArchitectsDiagram Stork Meadow © CF Møller ArchitectsDiagram Stork Meadow © CF Møller Architects

Visitors to Stork Meadow will pass grazing cattle and reach a crescent-shaped platform in the middle of the water meadows. A raised boardwalk made from larch planks with grooved surfaces curves from a dike across the new water meadows, with a jetty by the bank of the Gudenå River for canoeists to embark from. This design provides both flood defense and recreational opportunities, seamlessly blending urban and natural landscapes.

The platform is designed to educate visitors about local habitat values, stormwater management, and the integration of nature into urban settings. Stork Meadow’s hybrid approach has transformed the grasslands opposite the town and river into water meadows. This method combines climate protection with urban and natural development, exemplifying C.F. Møller’s holistic approach.

Stork Meadow © Peter Sikker RasmussenStork Meadow © Peter Sikker Rasmussen

The Stork Meadow project was undertaken in collaboration with Danish technical advisors Orbicon. Work began in the autumn of 2018 and was completed in 2024. The project was well received by the citizens of Randers and is now enjoyed by people from all walks of life.

As rising water levels due to climate change become a pressing concern for urban planners globally, the Stork Meadow project stands as a pioneering example of integrated flood management. Architects and designers are increasingly under pressure to develop such systems, making Randers a leading example of how cities can adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change while enhancing both urban and natural environments.

Location
Randers, Denmark

Year
2020-2024

Area
83 ha

Client
Randers Municipality and Vandmiljø Randers

Architects and Landscaping
C.F. Møller Architects

Engineering
WSP Denmark

Contractor
Jakobsen & Blindkilde

Collaborators
Geo

Photography
Peter Sikker Rasmussen

Award
1st prize in architectural competition, 2017

Content edited by Dima Fadel
© urbanNext

urbanNext (October 3, 2024) Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark. Retrieved from https://urbannext.net/stork-meadow-multi-functional-climate-adaptation-in-denmark/.
Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark.” urbanNext – October 3, 2024, https://urbannext.net/stork-meadow-multi-functional-climate-adaptation-in-denmark/
urbanNext September 25, 2024 Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark., viewed October 3, 2024,<https://urbannext.net/stork-meadow-multi-functional-climate-adaptation-in-denmark/>
urbanNext – Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark. [Internet]. [Accessed October 3, 2024]. Available from: https://urbannext.net/stork-meadow-multi-functional-climate-adaptation-in-denmark/
Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark.” urbanNext – Accessed October 3, 2024. https://urbannext.net/stork-meadow-multi-functional-climate-adaptation-in-denmark/
Stork Meadow: Multi-Functional Climate Adaptation in Denmark.” urbanNext [Online]. Available: https://urbannext.net/stork-meadow-multi-functional-climate-adaptation-in-denmark/. [Accessed: October 3, 2024]

urbanNext | expanding architecture to rethink cities and territories

Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter

Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
Formats
Audio&visual
Concept
Data
Essay
Forum
Lecture
Podcast
Project
Talk
Survey
Statement
Selfthink
High Density
Middle Density
Low Density
No Density

talk

essay

project

product

survey

data

all formats