Fælledby wooden residential district: ecology, architecture, and nature in one space

Fælledby is an eco-friendly housing project that will be built entirely out of wood, with nature itself at its core.

This low-rise development, planned on the site of a former landfill on the outskirts of Copenhagen (Denmark), will house 7,000 residents and become the capital’s first all-wood neighborhood.

It was designed in collaboration with engineers and biologists from the Ministry of Education to demonstrate how modern housing can meet the needs of people, animals, and nature all at once.

“The decision to build in a natural landscape comes with the promise of finding balance between people and nature,” explained Signe Kongebro, partner at Henning Larsen.

“Specifically, this means that our new district will be the first in Copenhagen built entirely from wood, while also including natural habitats that support plant growth and animal life,” she added.

“By using the countryside as an archetype, we are creating a city where biodiversity and outdoor activity define the relationship between people and nature.”

The 18-hectare Fælledby project was named the winner of a national design competition.

Once completed, it will be divided into three separate neighborhoods. This layout is intended to create “a stronger sense of community.”

Visually, Fælledby blends the aesthetics of Danish urban architecture with rural typologies, aiming to complement the urban environment while evoking the feel of a bucolic village.

Each home will be built entirely from wood in order to reduce carbon emissions during construction.

At the center of each of the three neighborhoods, Henning Larsen also plans to include ponds that will provide habitats for frogs and salamanders.

“We see the potential to build a new city that speaks to the values of the younger generation – a home for people seeking ways to live in greater harmony with nature. For us, Fælledby is proof of concept that this can truly be done.”

Although the construction timeline for Fælledby has not been disclosed, Henning Larsen will develop it in phases to “allow the landscape to organically integrate into the space.”