Oslo Airport Prepares For New Airport City To Operate On Renewable Energy
In 30 years, Norway’s Oslo Airport promises to look and operate much differently. That’s because a new sustainable and smart Oslo Airport City project spanning roughly 43 million square feet (4 million square meters) is in the works at a location adjacent to the airport. Notably, plans from Norwegian outfits Haptic Architects and Nordic–Office Of Architecture unveiled in early March call for the new airport city to be powered entirely by renewable energy and served by electric vehicles.
A Surplus Of Energy
A development company called Oslo Airport City has been established to head up planning and construction of the city, which will reside between the government-owned Oslo Airport and Jessheim. Plans call for the construction of the first energy-positive airport city, with the ability to sell surplus energy to the communities around it, officials say.
Construction is to begin within two years, and the first building is set for completion in 2022. According to the OAC, about 11 million square feet (1 million square meters) of the development will feature mixed-use real estate properties, including hotels, offices, housing, and cultural facilities. Officials suggest plans for the airport city reflect Norway’s “green shift from an oil-based economy to one powered by renewable energy.” Thus, the city will incorporate low-carbon features and green technologies and serve as a “testbed for a technology-driven city.”
“Oslo Airport City will be a catalyst for high-value economic activity in Norway,” says Thor Thoeneie, Oslo Airport City managing director. “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 specialized 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.”
A Car-Free Zone
Oslo Airport is already one of the most digitalized airports in Europe, officials say, and point to the airport’s plans to operate its first electric aircraft fleet by 2025 as evidence of its forward thinking. The airport city will also incorporate driverless electric cars, auto lighting, and smart technology for mobility, waste, security, and other services. Plans also call for a car-free city center, with the city’s outer regions providing a testing bed for driverless technology.
Elsewhere, developers plan to cater to Norway’s “passion for sports and outdoor activities” by making the airport city a destination for leisure activities focused around a public park. Citizens will never be more than five minutes from public transport, and the city will include a “generous provision of green spaces for the airport’s growing workforce,” which is projected to climb from 22,000 to 40,000 people by 2050.
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Source: Haptic Architects