Relational Values as a Nature-Based Solution in Copenhagen, Denmark

Social housing is a contested social good in Denmark, with politicians calling for the opening-up of blighted neighborhoods to improve perceived safety and social resilience. In parallel, there are calls for addressing environmental challenges such as stormwater management, biodiversity enhancement, and long-term stewardship of green spaces. This paper examines the SDGs number 11 and 15 in the case of Hørgården in Copenhagen, Denmark, a not-for-profit housing area located in a state-identified marginalized neighborhood. Hørgården is undergoing significant renovation in response to national and local political goals to implement nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate adaptation and to address negative perceptions of the neighborhood. Unique to this case is the use of community-based engagement in the overall design narratives being used to realize inclusive climate resilience. Architects, social workers, and researchers have worked in tandem to identify site-specific landscape values and integrate resident perspectives into the neighborhood renovation. Results of resident engagement and on-site participatory digital mapping reveal that residents highly value social relations and community cohesion in neighborhood green spaces, even more than they value nature itself. These findings are integrated into the landscape plans for rainwater management, linking technical approaches with designs for spaces that support community-based social values and biodiversity. The case study of Hørgården highlights the potential for centering relational values in NBS. It also illustrates the value of leveraging social, ecological, and technological processes in tandem to meet the challenges of providing just and inclusive pathways for urban climate resilience.