Norwegian practices Haptic Architects and Nordic – Office of Architecture have teamed up to design a masterplan for Oslo's Airport City (OAC), a new model for a sustainable smart city located adjacent to Oslo Airport. 

The 4 million-square-metre city, is set to be powered entirely by renewable energy, served by electric vehicles and will take 30 years to build. The scheme is being developed by Norwegian development vehicle Oslo Airport City.

Image © Forbes Massie

OAC will act as the 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.

Backed by the Norwegian governments’ green shift from an oil-based economy to one powered by renewable energy, Oslo Airport City will embrace low carbon features and green technologies. 

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The city will be a test-bed 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. The government-owned Oslo Airport today is the most digitalised airport in Europe and is expected to be the first airport to operate its first electric fleet from 2025.

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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, and its citizens will never be more than five minutes away from public transport. It will also include generous provision of green spaces for the airport’s growing workforce, which is expected to increase from 22,000 to 40,000 people by 2050.

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"This is a unique opportunity to design a new city from scratch. 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 Tomas Stokke, Director at Haptic Architects.

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," added Stokke. 

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“Oslo Airport City will be a catalyst for high-value economic activity in Norway. 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," said Thor Thoeneie, Managing Director of Oslo Airport City.

"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!," he added.

OAC context areal view. Image © Haptic

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.

OAC phase 1. Image © Haptic

Project facts

Oslo Airport City Masterplan Project Team:
Architects: Haptic Architects and Nordic – Office of Architecture
Engineers: Buro Happold Engineering
Developer: Oslo Airport City

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> via Haptic Architects and Nordic – Office of Architecture