Keflavík Airport Area

Keflavík, Iceland
Visualization © KCAP
Visualization © KCAP
Drawing © KCAP
Drawing © KCAP/MIC
Drawing © KCAP/MIC
Drawing © KCAP/MIC
Drawing © Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners
Drawing © Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners
Architekci
KCAP Zürich
Location
Keflavík, Iceland
Year
2021 - ongoing
Client
Kadeco, Keflavík
Program
55 km2 strategic masterplan for the development of the Keflavík Airport Area
Role
Urban planner and urban design
Participating parties
WSP, Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners, MIC Mobility in Chain, VSO Consulting, Reykjavík, Buck Consultants International, Nijmegen/The Hague, Buro Happold Berlin, Base Design Brussels, Maurits Schaafsma, Amberg Loglay, Kanon Arkitektar Reykjavík

The current excess of available land in the vicinity of the Keflavík Airport creates a risk of low-density, low value development. The strategy identifies catalyst sites that achieve a high impact by identity-building and value creation. The plan creates hubs for the neighbouring communities with projects that have a local ownership and answer to existing needs. The new centralities form a polycentric urban archipelago, connected by the landscape of the Airport Corridor. Landscape innovation will be deployed to integrate climate mitigation, and will play a fundamental role as the ‘identity carrier’ for the airport area. Tapping into the government’s climate action plan, the landscape concept connects the Airport Corridor into a national network of reforestation projects. A future oriented mobility vision comprising the Keflavík-Reykjavík Link (BRT), local public transport and active mobility linkages connects the airport area’s urban nodes for travellers and inhabitants.

The multidisciplinary team developed a cohesive yet incremental strategy and a phased timeline for greenfield interventions and the transformation and densification of existing built areas. These sites can facilitate diversification into new sectors such as the production of green hydrogen, hi-tech agriculture, low carbon innovation and marine aquaculture. Keflavík Airport Area will attract new high-value companies and create opportunities for a diverse workforce. The economic strategy will deepen the pool for innovative sectors by attracting international experts as well as improving educational opportunities for locals. A gradual approach will provide investors with a trajectory that responds to the market, to the culture of development and to the stakeholder network that needs to be developed to create a resilient social and business ecosystem.

Related Projects

  • Shanghai Suhe MixC World
    KOKAISTUDIOS
  • Welcome to the Stage!
    Kjellander Sjöberg
  • Hovering Kan-Too – Great Bay Area Center Showroom
    Wutopia Lab
  • Stockwell-Rodríguez Residence
    Belmont Freeman Architects
  • Haunsbergstraße | 1. Preis
    Architektinnen Schremmer.Jell ZT GmbH

Magazine

Other Projects by KCAP Zürich

Oase Oerlikon
Oerlikon, Switzerland
Nuova Lugano
Lugano, Switzerland
SBB Werkstadt
Zurich, Switzerland
OZ Nature Urbaine Montpellier
Montpellier, France
Killesberghöhe
Stuttgart, Niemcy