Last updated: October 2021
The project was about restoration of the Aarhus river. The river was piped during the 1930s for hygienic reasons and to give space for road infrastructure. In 1989, the city decided to resurface the river. The river acts as a green and blue corridor running through the city centre. Furthermore, The City Council approved a plan for the recreational vision of the Aarhus River and e.g. flood prevention measures have been taken. (Ref. 1, 2, 3) The Aarhus Å project was completed in the years from 2006 to 2013. (Ref. 15)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Green corridors and green belts
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Coastlines
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: service sectors
- Real estate development
- Employment/job creation
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Other
Project objectives
The restoring of the river aimed to improve the quality of the water hygiene in the receiving waters through the Aarhus River project to support the opportunities for recreational use of Lake Brabrand, the Aarhus River and the Port of Aarhus. The planned solutions are adapted to the expected climate change scenarios. (Ref. 3) Also, projects aimed to prevent flooding by providing "time and space for water" where separate sewers, the construction of large, linked rainwater ponds and new lakes able to act as reservoirs are part of the mix. (Ref. 2)
Creating waterfront spaces where opportunities for activities generating liveliness and commitment will arise. (Ref. 4, 5, 6)
A part of the vision for Aarhus River (Århus Å) included re-building of Mølleparken, and creating a connection to the green and recreational areas near and around to the river. (6)
In connection with the river's exposure, a large pumping and locking system that will improve the protection of Aarhus Midtby against floods from the sea was created. (Ref 17)
Implementation activities
-Two meadow lakes (100 ha and 115 ha) were established upstream to reduce the leaching of agricultural surplus of nitrogen and phosphors into the Bay of Aarhus. (Ref. 1)
-The river acts as a green and blue corridor running through the city centre. (Ref. 1)
- Re-building of of Mølleparken, and creation of waterfront spaces to increase economic activity (Ref. 5, 6)
- The planned solutions were adapted to the expected climate change scenarios. (Ref. 3)
-The new waterfront spaces will cover a total area of approximately 23,000 m2 (the size of the area is the equivalent of around four football fields). (Ref. 7)
- Eight large basins - most underground - for temporary collection of rainwater and wastewater in case of heavy rain. Total capacity 50,350 m3 (50.3 million liters) (Ref 15)
- Many sewers are closed - pipes are routed to the new basins or treatment plants instead (Ref 15)
- Improved treatment of wastewater at Viby and Åby Wastewater Treatment Plant (Ref 15)
- The expansion of the capacity at Viby and Åby Wastewater Treatment Plant (Ref 15)
- In connection with the river's exposure, a large pumping and locking system that will improve the protection of Aarhus Midtby against floods from the sea was created. (Ref 17)
- IT solution with the use of rain radar and overall control of the entire wastewater system - basins, sewer system and treatment plant (Ref 15)
- Notification in case of exceeding of the requirements for bathing water quality (Ref 15)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Initiating the restoration of the river is the city of Aarhus. (Ref. 1) Collaboration in the Aarhus River Project are Alectia and Aarhus Water. (Ref. 2, 3).
The construction project, which include the creation of waterfront spaces, ‘Urban Mediaspace’ (a project by Danish practice Schmidt/Hammer/Lassen Architects), is led by the project secretariat, who is responsible for project management, planning, development and coordination. (Ref. 2, 9)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The decision to restoring/improving the river (taken by the municipality in 2005) is driven by the EU Water Framework Directive and the Bathing Water Directive. (Ref. 3))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(In 1997 the Port of Århus, Århus County and Århus City adopted large-scale plans for the development of Århus harbour. (Ref. 8) Furthermore, The City Council resolved in 2010 to build climate defenses for the city centre in the form of flood prevention (the sluice), to coincide with the building of the Multimedia Centre. (Ref. 2) )
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Other
Economic impacts
- Increased property prices
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
- Attraction of business and investment
- Generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref. 1. Green Surge (2015) Aarhus, Denmark - Case study city portrait; part of a GREEN SURGE study on urban green infrastructure planning and governance in 20 European cities. Aarhus Municipality. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 2. City of Aarhus (2016) Sluice prepares Aarhus for more water. Projects. Go green with Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 3. State of Green (n.d.) Aarhus river project. Aarhus Vand. Solution. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Projektet. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 5. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Vision for the project. Project. Urban Mediaspace Source link not available in 2020]
Ref. 6. Århus kommune (2007) Rekreativ Vision for Århus Å: Fra Brabrand Sø til Århus Havn. Natur og Miljø. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 7. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Size of the waterfront spaces. Waterfront spaces. Urban Mediaspace Source link not available in 2020]
Ref. 8. Mediaspace (2008) New central urban waterfront and mediaspace in Aarhus: competition breif, volume I. City of Århus. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 9. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Project management. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 10. City of Aarhus (n.d.) Aarhus CO2 neutral in 2030 - tackling climate change in EcoCity Aarhus. Aarhus Kommune. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 11. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Finances. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 12. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Background. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. Information obtained: 2017-06-22. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 13. Griffiths, J., & Lambert, R. (2013) Free Flow: Reaching Water Security Through Cooperation. Unesco. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 14. Aarhus kommune (2013) The Aarhus model for citizen involvement. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 15. Aarhusvand (n.d.) Renere vand i havn, å og søer. Source: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]
Ref. 16. Sweco (2020) Genåbning af Aarhus Å. Source: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]
Ref. 17. Realdania (2013) Frilægning af Aarhus Å. Source: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]
Ref. 2. City of Aarhus (2016) Sluice prepares Aarhus for more water. Projects. Go green with Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 3. State of Green (n.d.) Aarhus river project. Aarhus Vand. Solution. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Projektet. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 5. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Vision for the project. Project. Urban Mediaspace Source link not available in 2020]
Ref. 6. Århus kommune (2007) Rekreativ Vision for Århus Å: Fra Brabrand Sø til Århus Havn. Natur og Miljø. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 7. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Size of the waterfront spaces. Waterfront spaces. Urban Mediaspace Source link not available in 2020]
Ref. 8. Mediaspace (2008) New central urban waterfront and mediaspace in Aarhus: competition breif, volume I. City of Århus. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 9. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Project management. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 10. City of Aarhus (n.d.) Aarhus CO2 neutral in 2030 - tackling climate change in EcoCity Aarhus. Aarhus Kommune. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 11. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Finances. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 12. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Background. Urban Mediaspace Aarhus. Information obtained: 2017-06-22. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 13. Griffiths, J., & Lambert, R. (2013) Free Flow: Reaching Water Security Through Cooperation. Unesco. Source: Source link [Accessed 10 September 2020]
Ref. 14. Aarhus kommune (2013) The Aarhus model for citizen involvement. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 15. Aarhusvand (n.d.) Renere vand i havn, å og søer. Source: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]
Ref. 16. Sweco (2020) Genåbning af Aarhus Å. Source: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]
Ref. 17. Realdania (2013) Frilægning af Aarhus Å. Source: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]