Landscape design with surface water in mind
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Surface water considerations are an essential part of a landscape architect’s integrated planning. Some of Denmark’s leading architects are working to create innovative ways to manage surface water and create water elements that effectively support nature and biodiversity.
Nature-based solutions can look very different, and they contribute to surface water management as well as increasing biodiversity and improving microclimates.
Terrain is where landscaping begins
“Topography is the essence of landscape architecture,” says Thomas Hjorth Vesterbæk, at the landscape architecture firm Schønherr, which specialises in urban planning and transformation, infrastructure, spatial consulting and climate adaptation. “At the beginning of every project, we start by exploring what the terrain looks like. Because we need to get a sense of the place and terrain, we start in Scalgo Live.”
Thomas knows the advantages of considering surface water early in a project. It is easier to incorporate drainage and flood mitigation if these measures are planned early on, rather than trying to retrofit them later. It also opens opportunities for nature-based solutions, such as rain gardens, which provide a more sustainable foundation, enhance biodiversity, and improve microclimates.
“Because we need to get a sense of the place and terrain, we start in Scalgo Live.”
Thomas Hjorth Vesterbæk, Schønherr
There are many ways to explore terrain. Together with the raster dataset, contour lines provide a good visual representation of the terrain in and around the project area.
Easily explore surface water
At another architecture studio, Pluskontoret, which specialises in sustainability and energy optimisation and does not rely on a one-size-fits-all approach, Scalgo Live is used throughout projects. The platform helps explore how surface water behaves in existing terrain and also supports the creation of new landscapes.
“Developers listen more attentively to our input about where buildings should be placed and how to work the terrain to minimise flooding because Scalgo Live is so visually appealing.”
Simon Hertz, Pluskontoret
At Pluskontoret, project manager Simon Hertz explains, “We start by looking at existing flow paths and assessing where water accumulates. We can sort out many doubts and questions very early on in the project, ruling out feelings of uncertainty in the latter phases. Being able to collect all the information at the beginning of the project reduces the number of changes that will need to be made later."
Interactive visualisations improve the communication with clients and stakeholders. “Developers listen more attentively to our input about where buildings should be placed and how to work the terrain to minimise flooding because Scalgo Live is so visually appealing,” says Simon. “They don’t want to put a building where there is a risk of flooding, so when they see it clearly on a map, they’re more responsive.”
All the data in the one place
For many architecture firms, using lots of different platforms to collect information has become a time-consuming task. “But now we can get everything from one place,” says Simon. “For example, cadastral maps and any information on protected nature areas are important to be aware of from the start of the project, and they’re all in Scalgo Live.”
Having access to historical maps makes it possible to track past features and developments to better understand how an area has changed.
Another important starting point in projects is historical maps. Understanding how an area has changed is essential to informing how it should be further developed.
As Thomas reflects, “Before, people settled in places where the risk of flooding was low. It was only later, as the need to expand cities grew, that people began building in flood-prone areas – areas that we now may need to retreat from.”
Collaboration at the heart of landscape design
Certainly, a successful landscape design always requires collaboration with landowners, engineers, entrepreneurs and more.
“Neighbours of these large basins were initially worried that they might cause flooding in their homes, but with Scalgo Live we could make robust plans and visualise these results to stakeholders, to reassure them”
Nichlas Claus Rasmussen, Henning Larsen
Senior Landscape Architect Nichlas Claus Rasmussen from the International Architecture studio Henning Larsen, has a lot of experience working on interdisciplinary projects where collaboration is crucial.
“I work very closely with engineers and hydraulic modellers at Rambøll, shaping terrain in Scalgo Live and placing basins in a way that they will fit well into the landscape,” Nichlas comments. “Engineers can see my designs directly from the platform and incorporate them into their dynamic models. They can then, in turn, share their modelling results with me in a Modelspace – it works very smoothly”.
Recently, Nichlas designed Kagsåparken in Copenhagen, which is part of a large cloudburst management project in Greater Copenhagen. Engineers had estimated the needed capacities while Nichlas placed the basins and describe their effect.
Kagsåparken is part of the Harrestrup Å watershed, where large cloudburst plans have been developed and several flood detention basins will be implemented over the next few decades to protect Greater Copenhagen from flooding.
“Neighbours of this large flood mitigation project were initially worried that the basins might cause flooding in their homes, but we could make robust plans and visualise these results to stakeholders, to reassure them,” says Nichlas.
More possibilities for detailed terrain design
In Denmark, flood mitigation currently takes up much of the agenda, but there are other emerging challenges that need to be addressed.
At Schønherr, for example, landscape architects also improve biodiversity and microclimates. “Terrain and existing vegetation affect local climate conditions, and it is a complex task to model these things,” Thomas says. “But simple assessments, like slope conditions in the landscape, can give an indication of how the microclimate will be.”
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