Rahbeks Allé

The new avenue trees give the street a strong and distinctive green character that complements the existing mature plane trees at Vesterbrogade, as well as the trees and shrubs found in private gardens and around Bakkehuset. At the same time, the trees help organize parking, making parked cars far less dominant in the streetscape than before. New lighting is introduced, replacing the former wire-suspended fixtures with lower lighting columns that follow the rhythm of the trees. This enhances the street’s spatial coherence while creating a greater sense of safety, intimacy, and human scale, making the street feel more welcoming and inviting.

At Bakkehuset, a new public square is created using cobblestone paving, featuring a large circular bench and planting beds with trees and flowering perennials. Replacing the former road closure barrier that restricted vehicle access, the neighbourhood gains a new public space that serves both as a pause along the street and as an entrance forecourt to Bakkehuset. The square also plays an important role in reducing the speed of the many cyclists who use Rahbeks Allé, a concern for locals and a broader traffic safety issue.

At Vesterbrogade, the intersection is redesigned to improve traffic flow. As part of this transformation, a small new public plaza is created in front of the local pizzeria. The three large and characteristic locust trees that prominently mark the entrance to Rahbeks Allé from Vesterbrogade are preserved despite the changes to the road layout. The space beneath the trees is renovated through the relaying and extension of the cobblestone paving and the creation of a new sidewalk connection leading directly into Rahbeks Allé.

The cloudburst management scheme is designed to retain and delay stormwater in underground storage volumes capable of handling rainfall equivalent to a 100-year storm event. Large underground storage crates are installed beneath the roadway, and the collected rainwater is reused for the automatic irrigation of the new avenue trees.

Today, Rahbeks Allé is experienced as a greener and safer street, benefiting both residents and cyclists while also serving a practical and sustainable function by managing large volumes of rainwater during extreme weather events.