Copenhagen wants to build 9 artificial islands to house 'the European Silicon Valley.' Take a look at the plan.
- The Danish government is moving forward with a plan to build nine artificial islands on the coast of Copenhagen.
- The project, which hopes to attract tech companies, has been touted by the head of the Danish chamber of commerce as "the European Silicon Valley."
- The architect has reserved space for the biggest waste-to-energy plant in Northern Europe, which could reduce carbon emissions.
Copenhagen has an obsession with islands.
Months after the city announced a $3 billion plan to alleviate its housing shortage with an island built for 35,000 people, the Danish government sanctioned a proposal to build nine artificial islets in Hvidovre, part of the greater Copenhagen area.
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The latest project is impressive in both size and scale.
At an anticipated 33 million square feet, it's set to become the largest area of reclaimed land - land that's culled from oceans, riverbeds, or lakes - in all of Scandinavia. It's also expected to generate around 12,000 jobs in fields like biotechnology and life science.
A key element of the project is its focus on climate resilience.
By reserving space for the biggest waste-to-energy plant in Northern Europe, the architect - a firm called Urban Power - hopes to reduce polluting carbon emissions. The soil will also provide a natural flood barrier that can protect against rising sea levels.
When all is said and done, the islands could become the future home of a tech community that's been dubbed "the European Silicon Valley " by the head of the Danish chamber of commerce.
Take a look at what the project could look like if it's approved by the Danish parliament.