Bjarke Ingels Group’s (BIG) Oslo Science City is part of Oslo’s 2019 Strategy for the Development of the Knowledge Capital, a 1.4 million square meter hub that aims to house 150,000 scientists, entrepreneurs and students. The area will also contribute to the country’s shift to renewable energy.
Oslo Science City was developed by not only Bjarke Ingels Group, but A-lab, mobility experts CIVITAS, design community COMTE BUREAU and advisors Dr. Tim Moonen/THE BUSINESS OF CITIES and Leo Grünfeld/MENON ECONOMICS.
Related: Nearly 5,000 prefab concrete panels wrap BIG-designed “outdoor urban room” in France
In central Oslo, home to 300 start-up companies, 7,500 researchers, 10,000 hospital employees and 30,000 students, a feasibility study has been underway to create an innovation district for Norway. The idea: to support 22% projected growth for Oslo by 2045, or about 1.6 million inhabitants.
Oslo Science City plans to create an innovation district that aims to be a net-zero emissions area built on renewable energy and circular economic principles.
“Our design for Oslo Science City seeks to strengthen and develop the existing communities and neighborhoods while expanding the area’s diversity through new spaces to live, work and share knowledge,” said Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG. “To manifest the identity of Oslo Science City, the elements of the master plan are tied together in a continuous loop of welcoming multifunctional buildings and spaces that open out towards the streets and create an engaging urban environment.”
Oslo Science City is designed to house Norway’s largest life sciences building for research and teaching, which will be completed by 2026. It will also have an expansion of the existing Oslo Cancer Cluster.
Another research center called Climate, Energy and Environment will create a campus and center for research and innovation between the country’s leading research institute SINTEF, The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, the Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology, the Norwegian Institute for Water Research and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, among others.
Digitalization and Computational Science will be housed here too, which aims to foster collaborations between the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo. In addition, there will be collaboration with The Norwegian Computing Center and Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium, which explores artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics.
There will also be a Department of Democracy and Inclusion, where new knowledge will be developed. It will be about the threats and solutions to strengthen democracy, the role of democratic institutions in a time of technological disruption, increased economic inequality and anti-democratic forces.
Oslo Science City aims to excel in planning processes as well. There will be efficient land use and densification kept in mind, along with increasing the amount of biomass in the area. Oslo Science City will include not only eco-friendly buildings, but a green corridor through the hub, extensive tree planting and emissions-free mobility solutions.
Images via PLAYTIME and Bjarke Ingels Group
