Sustainable strategy developed for global aviation hub in Iceland

The team led by Tenderstream member KCAP has won the international competition for the Keflavík Airport Area strategic masterplan in Iceland, with an integrated vision linking ambitious economic development concepts to sustainable design principles. The multidisciplinary team led by KCAP includes WSP, Felixx, MIC Mobility in Chain, VSO Consulting, Buck Consultants International, Buro Happold, Base Design, Maurits Schaafsma, Amberg Loglay and Kanon Arkitektar. The contest was organised by the Keflavík Airport Development Company (Kadeco), who is responsible for the 55 km sq development surrounding Iceland’s global aviation hub. Second and third prizes were awarded to international consortia led by Tenderstream member Arup and Jacobs respectively.

The masterplan seeks to transform strategic locations in the airport area into a showcase for the country’s ambitious economic development and sustainability strategies. It was this approach—together with the proposal for collaborative development between public and private sectors—that earned the KCAP team first prize. The winning proposal aims to capitalize on Keflavik’s position between Europe and North America, its plentiful supply of renewable energy, and the captivating landscape of the Reykjanes UNESCO Geopark. At the same time, the masterplan seeks to ensure that the local communities grow together in a mutually beneficial manner.

Tapping into the government’s climate action plan that identifies reforestation as a top priority, the landscape concept connects the Airport Corridor into a national network of reforestation projects. The area’s urban areas are connected by the the Keflavík-Reykjavík Link (BRT), local public transport and active mobility linkages. Different strategies have been assigned to catalyst sites, with carefully phased timelines allowing for the different areas to be developed over time, according to market demand. The catalyst sites encourage new sectors to develop, such as the production of green hydrogen, electric aviation, hi-tech agriculture, and marine aquaculture. 

Anouk Kuitenbrouwer, partner-in-charge at KCAP, stated: “A project of such significance requires a bold and at the same time sensitive approach. A step-by-step roadmap will provide investors with a trajectory that responds to the possibilities, to the market, to the culture of development and to the stakeholder landscape over time. This gradual approach should also apply to stakeholder relations, which need to be developed with great care so as to create a resilient and ambitious organization.’

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

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