Landscape readings of Danish coastal cities between past and future

Sea level rise and urban development pose intertwined challenges for Denmark, where climate-driven acceleration of sea level rise creates uncertainties in extent - both geographical and temporal. Danish coastal cities—many established in medieval time—continue to grow, but rising seas will fundamentally reshape their conditions.

A key goal is to continually refine our understanding of this future. Here, maps play a central role: they illuminate past and present conditions and help imagine possible futures. The question is what kinds of maps are needed to grasp both problems and potentials.

This chapter examines the role of cartography in studying and responding to sea level rise, using a research-through-design approach. A sequence of new maps investigates development patterns and possibilities under rising sea levels, serving asa visual material to understand and enter dialogues about the challenges in hte light of sea level rise.