Køge Waterworks

Køge

GOAL no. 4, 6, 9, 13

‘The Story of Water’ was the working title for the new test centre and waterworks in the town of Køge. The plant combines the future supply of clean drinking water with research, learning and play.

Globally, water is rapidly becoming a scarce resource. Moreover, most people have little insight into the cycle of water from rainwater to safe, clean drinking water. Waterworks and other critical facilities are often closed, mysterious non-places that the citizens need to move around.

The new water centre in Køge makes a virtue of opening this critical infrastructure to the outside world. The plant combines water purification with a test centre for researchers and companies and is designed to optimize drinking water security in case of extreme rain events.

The building is transparent and perched at the highest point on the site, making all functions visible from the outside. A large, slightly sloping roof conducts rainwater to the lower-lying areas of the site. A lake has been enlarged to serve as a rainwater reservoir capable of receiving surface runoff from the surrounding terrain in case of torrential rain. Thus, every step in the cycle of water is visible: the rainwater lands on the roof, pours over the edge and falls into the long basins. The water infiltrates the lake and becomes groundwater. It is then pumped and returned to the waterworks where it is treated and becomes clean drinking water.

The general public from kindergarten to research level is invited to get close to the water processes both inside and outside the facility. The result is an outward-facing facility which aims to generate attractive jobs and create value for the local community. It will contribute to the research on future water treatment and engage visitors by telling them the story of the cycle of water.

This project demonstrates how critical infrastructure can be located and designed to encourage curiosity and learning about the planet’s crucial resources while also adding a recreational space.

Project details

Where: Vasebækvej 40, 4600 Køge

Completed: 2018

Client: KLAR Forsyning

Architects and advisors: Gottlieb Paludan Architects A/S (architecture and landscape), Krüger A/S (process engineering), EKJ A/S (construction engineering), LM Byg A/S (contractor)