KCAP launch design to transform Suðurnes peninsula in Iceland

Tenderstream member KCAP has announced the official launch of the K64 Keflavík airport area masterplan, a project of national importance for Iceland. Situated on the Suðurnes peninsula at the crossroads between Europe and North America, the area has the potential to become one of the world’s leading developments for sustainable innovation in the aviation, energy and technology sectors.

Codenamed K64 for its location straddling the 64th parallel north, the masterplan was developed by a multidisciplinary team led by KCAP, including WSP, FELIXX, MIC-HUB, VSO Consulting, Buck Consultants International, Buro Happold, Base Design, Maurits Schaafsma, and Kanon Arkitektar. The team proposed an incremental strategy to steer the long-term transformation of the surrounding peninsula, creating opportunities for economic activities while strengthening local communities.

The Gateway to Iceland traces a welcoming journey, starting from commercial and visitor airport amenities all the way up to the Aðalgata area, a nodal point at the Reykjanesbær city entrance. Together with the adjacent Diamond Gate logistics hub, the Aðalgata district will mix residential, community and R&D programmes.

On the southern edge of the airport, Ásbrú is envisaged as a campus, fostering aviation activities and R&D, start-up businesses, light industries and an ambitious residential development that turns the former NATO settlement into a distinct neighbourhood. North of Reykjanesbær, the existing port and manufacturing infrastructure will be transformed to create a circular-economy environment comprising a construction hub and a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility.

The vast landscape that currently separates the clusters will become a uniting peninsula park, through the application of a design strategy that uses afforestation to mitigate the harsh climate conditions and create space for outdoor facilities and cycling networks.

The masterplan went through an intense participatory process with a large group of stakeholders, and has political support by the local and national government. Anouk Kuitenbrouwer, partner at KCAP, states: “Working on the spatial and economic master plan over the past year has been an incredible journey. We hope that the joy and inspiration we have experienced in collaborating as a team and with the many stakeholders translated into a robust plan for this ambitious long-term endeavour.”

K64 will be presented at the upcoming Passenger Terminal Conference in Amsterdam and at MIPIM in Cannes.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published on 15.09.2014 by Tenderstream here

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