Havneklippen – ‘The Harbour Cliff’

‘The Harbour Cliff’, or ‘Havneklippen’ in Danish, is the world’s first free-floating open bouldering gym. It provides a chance for Copenhageners to experience the unique thrill of ‘deep-water soloing’ in the heart of the city.

Floating at the centre of a popular swimming spot on the harbour, visitors were free to swim to the structure and climb multiple routes along the three slightly inverted ledges. The most difficult route (roughly equivalent to a 7A on the Font Scale grading system) includes a treacherous 4.5m climb, complete with a dyno, or dynamic jump, to the last hold.

This self-initiated project marks yet another small step in the transformation of Copenhagen harbour from an industrial harbour into a recreational space for the city. It follows a series of projects by MAST including floating island parks and houseboat developments, which all aim to reconnect cities to the sea in a sustainable and climate resilient way.

Havneklippen was developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Copenhagen for the annual Kulturhavn festival,which brings art, culture and movement to the harbour during the month of August. There are plans to bring ‘Havneklippen’ back for the summer of 2024.