Lasby Sea Park

About the city. In recent years, the municipality of Skanderborg, located in Eastern Denmark, has experienced more frequent rainfalls which led to extensive flooding of urban areas. The accumulation of rainwater can result in overflowing of sewers and surface water quality degradation, the consequences of which will be exacerbated by the onset of climate change.

Goal

The aim of the project is to accommodate excess rainwater and protect Lasby’s citizens from increasing flood risks.

Implementation period. The conception phase started in January 2013 and the completion of the project was in 2016.

Fact

• Between 1980 and 2017, the cost of extreme weather and climate events in Denmark totalled approximately 10.5 billion euros. This includes the devastating floods that hit Copenhagen in 2011 due to rising sea levels and storms, known as the costliest natural disaster in Europe that year (Jacobson, 2019).
• On Christmas Eve 2013, Lasby was hit by heavy rain, flooding the local nursing home with 5.5 million litres of water. Lasby is located lower than the surrounding areas, which means that all the rainwater in the region ponds in the city during heavy rains.

Solutions

Skanderborg Forsyning and the City of Skanderborg worked closely with the civic group of Lasby residents from conception in January 2013 until completion in 2016.

Through extensive consultation with citizens, 900 ideas have been developed on how a vulnerable zone can be protected from climate change. Based on the citizens ‘ need for active recreational spaces around the water, the municipality has built a sea park (Låsby Søpark) with rainwater reservoirs that can accommodate heavy rain. Located on an old industrial site, the rainwater reservoirs are designed to look like natural lakes with a permanent water mirror. There, all the water flowing into Lasby from the 250 hectares of surrounding fields is retained and drained, thereby protecting the 2,000 residents of Lasby from the increasing risk of flooding.

There is a rainwater lake in the centre of the park, which takes various forms depending on the level of rainfall and the depth of the lake. The steep and flat shores of the lake provide residents with various entry points, even when the water level is high. There are many paths that provide access from different parts of the town, and a bridge that connects the eastern and western areas of the town. These design elements, including carefully chosen colour palettes for sculptures and sports facilities, reinforce the park’s central theme: accessibility for all.

Team

Skanderborg Municipality, Skanderborg Forsyning

Timeline

• Lasby Sea Park protects 2,000 residents of Lasby from the increasing risk of flooding.

• Lasby Sea Park has been awarded The Architecture Award of Skanderborg Municipality 2017.

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