European Landscape Architecture: Best Practice in Detailing

Denmark

mooring rings, but rocks have been placed against

the outside of the harbour walls so that ships can

no longer use this stretch as a quay.

The designers had to decide whether to attempt to

salvage the existing sett paving and railway tracks

or to undertake a completely new construction.

As their general approach favoured the retention

of the existing dockside character and the reuse of

materials, a detailed survey of the condition of the

surface was undertaken. It was found that granite

sett paving had often been covered up by additions

of concrete or asphalt. In other places, the removal

of concrete or asphalt left holes where the sett

paving had to be relaid. The railway lines were left

in the pavement, with their problematic sleepers

undisturbed below. In a few places, such as seat-

ing areas or the new plant beds, the tracks were

removed. Because a surface made of granite setts

can be uneven, and with particular regard for those

using wheelchairs or pushchairs, two rows of gran-

ite flags were set into the pavement. These flags

are of Halland Gneiss, the same material imported

to make the sett paving a hundred years ago. The

slabs have been sawn and flamed to give them an

even surface.

The promenade along the waterfront still has the

character of a harbour. Pavement and railway tracks

hold the history, while the skating rink, walls and

pergola which interrupt the promenade refer to the

new functions of the Harbour Park. Although some

of the paving has been relaid, it keeps its harbour-

side austerity because it does not look new.

Vestmanna Plads with the skateboard rink

Opposite the street called Vestmannagade is an

area surfaced with gravel and asphalt at the same

level as the promenades. Here there is a skate-

board rink in steel which is offset by 2m, so that

it cuts into the harbour promenade. In the centre

of this is a square of asphalt, 280m^2 in area, which

is approximately 600mm lower than the skatepark

and slightly skewed in plan. This forms a basketball

area which is edged by concrete elements forming

either a single step or three steps. There is also a

ramp between the skatepark and the basketball

pitch, edged by two low concrete walls.

Sorbus trees have been planted in groups on both

sides of the ramp and in the promenade along

the street known as Islands Brygge. Benches and

tables have been placed under the latter. The area

is illuminated by a single high spotlight positioned

on a metal pylon.

The asphalt mastic provides a very smooth surface

for roller skaters and skateboarders. The edges

around the lowered square are made with the

same type of concrete elements used to form the

1.12
Plan of the skateboard rink and the sunken bas-
ketball court. This area interrupts the line of cherry
trees. All the trees have white flowers.
1.13
Photo: the ramps and edges of the skateboard rink.
The seven-storey building in the background is on
the other side of the harbour.