Stork Meadow by C.F. Møller Architects

Stork Meadow – Integrated Landscape for Climate Adaptation and Urban Regeneration

Stork Meadow in Randers, Denmark, exemplifies how landscape architecture can serve as a catalyst for climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and urban renewal. Designed by C.F. Møller Architects as a central component of the larger “City by the Water” development strategy, the project addresses a pressing need for flood protection in a city increasingly affected by climate-related challenges, while simultaneously delivering substantial ecological and social value. Stork Meadow is a climate adaption project on Nature’s own terms – leveraging natural processes to enhance the value of the wet meadows.

Context and Challenges

Randers is situated at the meeting point of the Gudenå River and Randers Fjord, a location that leaves it particularly exposed to a complex combination of water-related risks: storm surges, sea level rise, cloudburst events, and rising groundwater. In response, Stork Meadow reimagines climate defence as a multi-functional landscape. Rather than relying solely on conventional engineering, the project embraces nature-based solutions to create a resilient wetland system that mitigates flood risk, enhances biodiversity, and invites public interaction with the landscape.

Covering 43 hectares, Stork Meadow represents the first realised phase of climate protection along an 8.8 km stretch of the river and fjord. At its core, the design is conceived as an “architectural multi-tool”—a single solution that integrates flood management, ecological restoration, and public recreation into one cohesive whole.

Smart Water Management

One of the key technical elements of the project is the innovative management of stormwater runoff. In the adjacent Vorup neighbourhood, a network of “cloudburst roads” has been established. These roads function conventionally during normal rainfall but, in extreme weather events, channel stormwater directly to the wetland. Once there, a carefully designed system of ditches leads the water into two large retention basins. A newly constructed dike, integrated into the landscape, provides protection against rising river levels and storm surges, while a pumping station ensures excess water can be safely discharged into the Gudenå, even during high tides.

Social Value

Beyond its technical achievements, Stork Meadow is a socially inclusive and ecologically rich landscape. To increase accessibility and enhance the nature experience, new pathways and activity plateaus are created, so that Storkeengen’s unique flora and fauna, and the wet meadows’ changing habitat, can be experienced at close hand. A raised boardwalk constructed from sustainably sourced larch offers an immersive experience through the wetlands, culminating in a crescent-shaped platform that functions as a gathering point and educational node. Informational signage explains the project’s stormwater strategies, ecological goals, and the broader role of nature in urban adaptation. The plateaus also make it possible to get up close to the area’s grazing cattle, enjoy the sunset, or navigate the Gudenå stream by canoe. With features like the boardwalk, viewing platforms, and a riverside jetty for canoe access, Stork Meadow not only offers intimate encounters with nature but also serves as an important connection within the Randers River delta’s extensive network of nature trails.

Biodiversity and Ecological Impact

The ecological transformation of the area—from degraded grassland to active wet meadow—has significantly increased local biodiversity. The landscape now provides varied habitats for flora and fauna, acting as a living buffer against flood events and a haven for wildlife. By dedicating large areas to restored nature, the project both preserves and enhances existing ecosystems, demonstrating how urban climate adaptation can simultaneously support environmental restoration.

Sustainability has been a guiding principle throughout. Materials have been carefully selected for their environmental performance and longevity, and the landscape has been designed for low maintenance and long-term resilience. The project improves water quality, strengthens ecological networks, and creates opportunities for both informal recreation and structured environmental education.

A Blueprint for Urban Resilience

Stork Meadow is a clear demonstration of the potential of integrated landscape design to address the critical challenges of climate change. It transforms a previously inaccessible and vulnerable area into a resilient, functional, and inclusive public space—one that safeguards the city while enriching daily life for its residents. This project positions landscape as essential infrastructure, showing how design can unite environmental, technical, and social needs in a single, cohesive vision.

• Project typology:

Climate Adaption Project & Public Park

• Other credits:
Engineer: WSP Denmark
Collaborators: GEO

Photo credits:

Peter Sikker Rasmussen
Silas Andersen

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