Oslo Airport City to be powered by renewable energy

Norway’s Haptic Architects and Nordic – Office of Architecture have unveiled their winning designs for the masterplan of Oslo Airport City (OAC) — a 4 million m² smart city set to be powered entirely by renewable energy.

To be located adjacent to Oslo Airport — currently the most digitalised airport in Europe — OAC aims to be the world’s first energy-positive airport city, with the capacity to sell surplus energy to surrounding buildings, communities and cities. It will also be able to provide crucial on-site provision, such as the de-icing of airplanes. The scheme is being developed by Norwegian development vehicle Oslo Airport City.

Backed by the Norwegian government’s shift from an oil-based economy to one powered by renewable energy, Oslo Airport City will embrace low-carbon features and green technologies. It will be a testbed for a technology-driven city, with plans to incorporate driverless electric cars, auto-lighting and smart technology for services such as mobility, waste and security.

Catering to Norway’s passion for sports and outdoor activities, OAC will be a destination for leisure activities centred around a public park in addition to the traditional cargo and business hub. A car-free city centre is planned, with citizens never to be more than five minutes away from public transport. It will also include green spaces for the airport’s growing workforce, which is expected to increase from 22,000 to 40,000 people by 2050.

“Using robust city planning strategies such as walkability, appropriate densities, active frontages and a car-free city centre, combined with the latest developments in technology, we will be able to create a green, sustainable city of the future,” said Haptic Architects Director Tomas Stokke. “Capitalising on the central location in northern Europe, a highly skilled workforce and proximity to an expansive and green airport, OAC has all the ingredients needed to make this a success. This is the most exciting type of project we can do as architects and I am very proud to be part of it.”

“Oslo Airport City will be a catalyst for high-value economic activity in Norway,” added Oslo Airport City Managing Director Thor Thoeneie. “We expect it to deliver long-term, highly skilled jobs creating science and technology-based products as well as providing employment in services such as specialised healthcare and executive education and training.

“As long-term city developers with focus on sustainable, innovative solutions, we believe the future of airport city development in Norway and Oslo is not a matter of if, but when!”

Oslo Airport City has received outline planning consent for development and some of the areas have detailed consents. Construction of the first stage is expected to start in 2019–20, with the first buildings completing in 2022. Overall, the city is expected to take 30 years to build.

Images ©Forbes Massie, Haptic Architects and Nordic – Office of Architecture.