The Coastal Path

In response to rising sea levels, The Coastal Path establishes a new protective landscape for Vejle, Denmark. The 50,000 m² intervention combines storm flood defense with ecological restoration and urban connectivity. Meandering paths and basins elevate the coastline while creating new public spaces that celebrate water, movement, and nature.

The Coastal Path proposes a hybrid landscape that merges flood protection with recreation and ecology. By adding new land to the harbor edge, a system of raised basins and interwoven paths secures the coastline up to 2100. The design restores the missing link between Vejle’s urban core and the natural beauty of its fjord and forest, shielding users from road and rail while offering uninterrupted access to nature.

The project becomes a living interface between land and water. Visitors experience the changing tide levels through sculpted topography, immersive paths, and restored marine habitats. Stone reefs and mussel banks enhance water quality, while eelgrass meadows regenerate biodiversity and capture carbon. The result is an adaptive, multi-layered landscape that protects the city and enriches life above and below the surface.