Location: Helsingør, Denmark
Type: Master Thesis Project
Design: Urban Ecology and Mobility Strategy
Team: Oana Maria Paraschiv & Louise Gjerulff Gertsen
Completion: 2016
CONCEPT | Processes in Situ focuses on time-driven urban development, blending natural ecosystems with urban infrastructure. The project explores how the interplay of natural processes, such as water management and urban mobility, can create adaptable, climate-resilient urban spaces. The key concept is to design urban environments that evolve gradually, allowing for both human and ecological needs to be met over time.
RESEARCH | In-depth research into climate adaptation, urban mobility, and ecological systems formed the foundation of the project. Water management, urban ecology, and sociological studies were conducted to understand how natural and built environments can co-exist in a sustainable, evolving system. This research explored best practices for integrating green infrastructure, stormwater management, and urban biodiversity into dense, built-up areas.
URBAN CONCEPT | The project envisions a city that adapts to environmental change through a phased approach to development. Water management strategies, such as green corridors, wetlands, and adaptive infrastructures, are used to facilitate climate resilience and urban biodiversity. Public spaces are designed to be flexible and multifunctional, shifting their roles as the landscape and the community’s needs evolve. The project’s urban layout balances built structures with natural spaces, providing an interconnected system that enhances mobility while prioritizing environmental health.
TECHNIQUES | Process-driven design techniques were employed to emphasize time as a key factor in urban development. The project uses flexible zoning, allowing spaces to adapt over time to shifting environmental conditions. Ecological design methods, including green infrastructure, stormwater retention systems, and biophilic design, were used to create a city that can evolve organically. The urban layout supports natural systems by incorporating permeable surfaces, green roofs, and vertical gardens, ensuring the built environment works in tandem with nature.
SUSTAINABILITY | Sustainability is a core element of the project, with a focus on water management, ecological regeneration, and climate adaptation. The integration of stormwater systems, urban biotopes, and green infrastructure promotes biodiversity while mitigating the impacts of climate change. Processes in Situ encourages long-term environmental resilience by designing urban spaces that respond to the natural rhythms of water and vegetation, creating a symbiotic relationship between the built environment and nature.
This project stands as a forward-thinking model for sustainable urban development, where the natural and urban landscapes grow and adapt together in response to changing environmental and social conditions.
