Laudation by Lieneke van Campen as download here.
Set on Copenhagen’s waterfront, Opera Park is a public park designed for recreation, relaxation and contemplation. This green space boasts a wide variety of trees, bushes, plants and flowers.
Designed by COBE, the park consists of six gardens inspired by different parts of the world: the North American Forest, the Danish Oak Forest, the Nordic Forest, the Oriental Garden, the English Garden, and the Subtropical Garden, which is housed in a greenhouse containing a café. A sophisticated underground car park and a covered footbridge connect the park to the Royal Danish Opera.
The gardens contain surprises such as a fountain, a water lily pond and a reflecting pool. Meandering paths and organically shaped flowerbeds bring the park’s various elements together. Like an opera stage, the park is a composed landscape with a foreground, middle ground and background. Plants and trees provide a scenic backdrop to the harbour. The abundance of trees and plantings provides shelter from strong winds coming in from the sea, increasing the level of comfort for visitors to the park.
The jury liked the modern design with historical references, and how the underground car park interacts with it through stairs and plants. The covered walkway with glass walls offers a unique experience, allowing visitors to walk through the park even in the rain.