Waterfront Cities in Transition: Towards a Regenerative Paradigm

In a new interdisciplinary collaboration between Rambøll and the Royal Danish Academy, Nicholas Davine is about to begin his PhD. He will be affiliated with Institute of Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape and the aim is to advance regenerative approaches to urban waterfront development in the face of climate change.

The project, Waterfront Cities in Transition: Towards a Regenerative Paradigm, investigates how regenerative thinking can be operationalised to support water- and landscape-led strategies for long-term urban waterfront adaptation. With climate change increasing the risk of storm surges and coastal flooding, the project seeks to contribute new theoretical insights into regenerative–adaptive urban development and to create a conceptual planning framework for coastal cities at risk.

At the Royal Danish Academy, the project aligns closely with ongoing research into sustainable spatial development and the green transition.

“At the Institute of Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape, we look forward to collaborating with Nicholas and Rambøll on this relevant and timely project on regenerative coastal planning. The questions of how the meeting between sea and city in existing urban formations can be planned and developed spatially and aesthetically in ways, that might even be regenerative, are central to our efforts to contribute with new knowledge to the Green Transition,” says Jonna Majgaard Krarup, professor at the Danish Royal Academy.

Nature must be prioritised in cities

For Rambøll, the collaboration supports a strategic ambition to place nature at the heart of climate adaptation and urban development.

“In Ramboll Water, we are dedicated to further developing our approach to prioritising nature in cities while shaping resilient and sustainable communities along urban waterfronts. We are excited to see this ambition unfold through our collaboration with Nicholas and the Royal Danish Academy,” Christian Nyerup Nielsen, Global Service Line Director for Climate Adaptation Rambøll states.

“ We strongly believe, that together we can develop climate and nature positive, or even regenerative approaches, which not only fulfills Ramboll’s vision, but also develops new market areas for our business, where we focus on nature as an integrated part of our solutions for helping to adapt and safeguard urban areas, rather than relying on mono-functional hardscapes,” he says. 

By combining research, design, and engineering expertise, the project aims to demonstrate how regenerative principles can move beyond theory and become actionable strategies for safeguarding and transforming urban waterfronts - benefitting cities, nature, and communities alike.

About Nicholas Davine

Nicholas Davine arbejder med langsigtede planlægningsmetoder for klimatilpasning i bynære havneområder. Hans arbejde fokuserer på, hvordan vand- og landskabsbaseret planlægning og design kan imødegå stigende havniveauer og stormflod gennem udvikling af innovative og samarbejdsbaserede tilgange til robuste og regenerative bymiljøer.

Tidligere har han arbejdet i en landskabsarkitektvirksomhed i Australien og senest som klimatilpasningskonsulent i Rambøll Water, hvor han har bidraget til både danske og internationale projekter. Nicholas Davine har en kandidatgrad i arkitektur fra Det Kongelige Akademi samt bachelorgrader i henholdsvis arkitektur og construction management fra Deakin University i Australien.