Oslo Airport's recent expansion doubled the size of the existing terminal building with the addition of a new 300-meter-long eco-friendly pier. Oslo-based practice Nordic-Office of Architecture designed the expansion, continuing the simplicity of the original airport while introducing new design elements to enhance the passenger experience.
The design team applied a holistic approach to sustainability including harvesting as much on-site energy as possible. Snow from the runways will be collected and stored during wintertime in an onsite depot to be used as coolant during the summer. Natural materials are also used throughout the building: the new pier is entirely clad in timber sourced from Scandinavian forests, and recycled steel and environmentally-friendly concrete mixed with volcanic ash have been used throughout the terminal. By choosing environmentally-friendly materials, the buildings CO2 emissions were reduced by 35 percent. Additionally, energy consumption in the new expansion has been cut by more than 50 percent compared to the existing terminal.
For passenger comfort, artificial lighting is designed as a minimal supplement to the high levels of natural daylight and can be set to reflect different moods according to weather, season and time of day. The layout of the building, transparency and open spaces enhances visual legibility and makes it easier for passengers to navigate.
Nordic also updated the existing train station, which enables 70 percent of all passengers to access the airport by public transport. Nordic's design increases the airport capacity from 19 million to an anticipated future capacity of 30 million.
The design team is currently working on ten airport projects in seven different countries. Istanbul New Airport is scheduled to open next year and, once completed, will be the largest airport in the world.