The Climate Route in Middelfart

When climate adaptation and urban space merge

When it rains in Middelfart, you can see the rainwater flowing down the middle of the street in the old town, instead of along the sides. It’s a way of creating a greener, more lush urban space. The rain is managed on the surface via channels and dips, letting the water soak away locally, which relieves the town’s sewer system.

When heavy rain falls, the water is led out into the Little Belt without damaging the old houses. In Middelfart, architecture and climate protection have been combined and turned into an asset.
KlimaByen covers an area of 450,000 m² in the western part of town. The project was completed in 2019, created in partnership with Middelfart Municipality, Middelfart Spildevand and Realdania.

KlimaByen is an example of how innovative climate adaptation solutions can be developed. The solutions are tailored to the different neighbourhoods, where rainwater becomes a visible urban element in the town.

Follow the climate route on a rainy day:

1. Brogade by Sankt Nicolai Church
   Here water from the town district is gathered before being led to Brohovedet.
   
   
2. Climate adaptation in Bykvarteret
   In Bykvarteret, a simple trough shape has been built so rainwater can be channelled through it, similar to what’s seen in southern European mountain towns. The trough is deep enough to lead rainwater down to the harbour and on into the Little Belt.
   
   
3. Skovgade Care Home
   Here rainwater from roofs, car parks and driveways – about 6,000 m² in total – is disconnected from the combined sewer. This means around 3,700 m³ of rainwater is retained and absorbed each year instead of burdening the public sewer.
   
   
4. Karensvej
   In the Skovkvarteret district around Karensvej, rain gardens with scattered trees have been planted, giving the street a green look reminiscent of a forest floor. The rain gardens collect everyday rainwater, which quietly seeps away.
   
   
5. Aktivitetsskoven (Activity Forest)
   Here climate adaptation is combined with play, movement, sport and learning. Everyday rain seeps into hollows, while overflow is led on to Langedam/Postens Rende and from there into the Little Belt. Several waterways meet and merge into a larger stream and small ponds.
   
   
6. Egevej
   On the narrow Egevej, pavements have been removed and all traffic uses the road – the pavements have been replaced by rain gardens planted with oak trees.
   
   
7. A. C. Hansens Allé
   Where A. C. Hansens Allé meets Vestre Kirkegård, a small square has been created around a staircase and a water basin. The basin fills with rainwater cascading down into it. From the basin, the water is led on to the harbour area.
   
   
8. Vestre Kirkegård
   Water from the Allékvarteret district ends up in the cemetery’s basin.
   
   
9. Sildemarken
   Overflow from the rain gardens in this district is led to Vestre Kirkegård, where a reflecting pool has been created. When it rains, the rainwater is led along a channel across Vestre Kirkegård – and from there down a water staircase to Sildemarken and out into the Little Belt.
   
   
10. Brohovedet by Havnegade
    This is where the water from the town district ends up. A large sediment trap and an oil separator clean the rainwater before it is released into the Little Belt.