THE COASTAL PATH

How can we adapt our cities for the coming challenges with rising water levels? The Coastal Path is a solution for the flood protection line to protect Vejle from storm surges and rising sea water level. Additional land is added to the current edge in a form of nature basins connected by three paths meandering between the different levels. The proposed paths and basins are designed to secure the coastal elevation until 2100.

The paths create a missing link between the city (the harbour and the city center) and nature of Vejle Fjord and The Deer Park forest. Currently, the recreational experience is disturbed by the presence of heavy traffic and the train tracks. The Coastal Path and raised landscaping act as an intelligent buffer against the road and the train tracks reducing the noise and pollution and offering seamless recreational experience connecting people with nature!

The Coastal Path is the meeting between land and water where one can experience the changing level of the seawater during the day, seasons and throughout years. The design activates the water edge, and our senses are at play in new ways. The paths span between different levels and frame nature basins where new life begins. The landscape is an art in itself and integrates in a playful way with the existing Wave building by Henning Larsen.

The proposal aims to increase biodiversity in Vejle Fjord and improve the fjord’s environmental condition. Vejle Fjord is regularly affected by oxygen depletion, which limits the maritime life and food supply for certain types of fish and other animals. The stone reefs are formed under the paths to recreate important for maritime biodiversity habitat. The mussel banks are formed around the rocks to help remove large number of algae resulting in clearer water and more light and oxygen for other habitats. In the basins the eelgrass meadows are re-established. The eelgrass forms the base of a highly productive marine food web. The unique habitat also produces food and oxygen, im-proves water quality by filtering polluted runoff, absorbs excess nutrients, stores greenhouse gas-es like carbon dioxide, and protects the shoreline from erosion.