Assens Harbour Square by byMUNCH

Built in 2023 / 2025 Built Landscapes / 2025 Entries / 2025 Public Projects / Denmark /
bymunch.dk

The Assens Harbour Square project is a transformation of a fragmented coastal town into a unified, active, and climate-adaptive urban landscape. Located at the intersection of Assens’ historical city centre and its industrial harbour district, the project reimagines a former non-space – once dominated by infrastructure and parking – as a dynamic green public space that connects the city with the water. In this way the projects become the first step in the future development of Assens as a lively, green harbour city.

A green harbour square: Climate adaptation and rainwater management
Denmark is experiencing more and more storms and flooding of coastal cities, which makes it more necessary than ever to integrate water management into the urban landscape. Central to this project is The Green Harbour Square, a multifunctional public space designed as a living landscape. The square features a low-lying topography for rainwater management, forming a “blue-green” system that collects and delays storm- and rainwater runoff. During periods of heavy rainfall or rising sea levels, these natural green areas fill to create temporary water features, with elevated paths and plazas remaining accessible above the waterline. The result is a robust, climate-resilient landscape that doubles as an engaging, natural public park.

Biodiversity through wild urban planting
The landscape design embraces biodiversity through varied terrain and a mix of many different plants. The vegetation includes salt-tolerant and native species such as Common reed grass, sea kale, and perennial pepperweed – plants that thrive in coastal conditions and reinforce the site’s identity. Dry and wet zones support a range of flora and fauna, encouraging a wild yet intentional aesthetic that changes with the seasons and enhances urban nature.
Open lawns provide space for events and recreation, while densely planted areas form ecological corridors that promote pollinators and bird life. This careful balance between structured function and natural wilderness makes the harbour square a model for urban biodiversity.

Architectural anchors and landmark design
At the architectural heart of the project is the transformation of the old town hall into Multiteket – a hybrid public building combining library, cultural hub, and community space. The harbour square becomes an extension of the building’s interior where the plaza in front of the main entrance can be utilized for events. Close to the building’s entrance, the multifunctional Activity Tower is placed in the plaza to activate urban life and promote movement. The tower acts as a new urban landmark in the city, offering visibility from key approach points, serving both symbolic and practical roles.
Constructed from reclaimed timber and inspired by the region’s industrial and maritime heritage, the tower integrates sustainable materials with bold design. Its illumination enhances nighttime safety and identity, while its verticality breaks the horizontal landscape of the harbour square, encouraging exploration and activity for all ages.

Sustainable development and flexible design
The harbour square is designed to evolve over time. A mosaic pavement – made from reused concrete fragments and new tiles – defines the square’s identity while allowing for phased expansion. Initial interventions focus on key nodes, while future stages can extend paving, add new installations, or introduce cultural programming based on the city’s needs.
Surrounding facades and “active edges” are also part of the design strategy, turning blank perimeters into lively areas for outdoor dining, local commerce, and community interaction. The integration of rain gardens, ditches, and tree-lined paths ensures that every layer of the design contributes to both liveability and ecological function.

The transformation of Assens’ harbour area is not just spatial, but also cultural and environmental. The project fosters ownership through community involvement, workshops, and ongoing dialogue with local stakeholders. Through adaptive design, climate sensitivity, and bold architectural gestures, the harbour square becomes not only the city’s new public heart but a model for sustainable urban development in coastal settings.

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
byMUNCH by- og landskabsdesign

• All architecture offices involved in the design:
WE Architecture

• Other credits you need or wish to write:
Assens Municipality and Realdania