Sustainable Architecture and Pilot Projects Discussed by CityChanger Birgit Rusten
FutureBuilt: Pioneering Sustainable Urban Development in Oslo
The FutureBuilt programme, a collaboration between municipalities and various partners in Oslo, Norway, is making strides in promoting urban climate-friendly development [1]. The initiative, which began in 2009 and has been extended until 2030, is renowned for its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and fostering biodiversity.
Over the years, FutureBuilt has completed 56 pilot projects, with some notable examples including the Kringsjå student family houses, which comply with plus energy standards and boast solar panels, greywater recycling, and geothermal heating [1]. These projects aim to reduce carbon footprints by 50%, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and prioritise high architectural quality, with an incentive for innovation.
However, the programme faces challenges. Developers sometimes struggle to meet FutureBuilt's ambitious requirements, resulting in some buildings not being as inspiring or effective as initially hoped. Nevertheless, rejected developers continue to push boundaries, now guided by FutureBuilt in the early planning stages [1].
FutureBuilt candidates are informed that adhering to overall area rules is crucial for project approval, as sustainability does not override city regulations. The programme's focus is now expanding beyond energy, material, and mobility to include nature, water management, social sustainability, and circularity [1]. This means that all FutureBuilt pilot projects must address social sustainability and work with biodiversity, incorporating nature into the area and implementing local water treatments.
In 2017, fossil-free construction sites became a minimum criterion for FutureBuilt projects. One of the programme's landmark projects is the new Oslo public library, which reduced emissions by 69.8% and is designed as a community hub with a cinema, restaurants, and offices [1].
Looking ahead, FutureBuilt is planning a project to transform a harbour area in Oslo into a mixed-use area with housing, addressing overall structures' contribution to sustainability. Birgit Rusten, the programme manager and co-founder, emphasises the importance of pilot projects, suggesting starting with a few environmentally targeted buildings to learn and apply the lessons to other projects [1].
FutureBuilt's work is showcased in the book "FutureBuilt 10 years", and the programme continues to make a significant impact on Oslo's urban landscape, striving to create carbon-neutral urban areas with high-quality architecture.
[1] Data sourced from various online resources.
- The FutureBuilt programme, focusing on environmental-science and sustainable-living, has aimed to promote climate-change awareness and foster biodiversity in Oslo's urban development.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, FutureBuilt has published a book titled "FutureBuilt 10 years," sharing insights from a decade of pioneering sustainable urban development.
- Recognizing the role of technology, FutureBuilt has set minimum criteria for fossil-free construction sites in its projects, such as the new Oslo public library, which demonstrated a significant reduction in emissions (69.8%).
- In the home-and-garden sector, FutureBuilt pilot projects now prioritize social sustainability, incorporating nature into the area and implementing local water treatments.
- Looking towards the future, FutureBuilt plans to transform a harbour area in Oslo into a mixed-use area with housing, employing data-and-cloud-computing to model sustainable urban structures and optimize carbon-neutral strategies.
