Scheme Building axes carve the building mass into three separate volumes while establishing connections between the new exterior public spaces. The lower levels of the three building masses consist of office and commercial programmes. Several housing structures are positioned above to maximise solar access. Cultural and public buildings are planned for future expansion around the west facing public space to strengthen the scheme programmatically. A linear water feature links these exterior public spaces together.

Public and private realms intertwine at the facade where view lines allow for a visual exchange between both programmes. Housing On the upper levels of the building lies Fornebu Panorama, four housing blocks with a total of 81 apartments. All apartments benefit from spacious balconies and access to the roof terraces. Over five acres of communal roof gardens provide areas for play and casual interactions between neighbours. Semi-private spaces are created on the roof terrace with sea glimpses and sunny landscaped zones.

The residential facades are clad in aluminium and glass to create both a sense of lightness and to reference the old Fornebu airport. Environment Fornebulandet and its environs are host to a diverse array of flora and fauna, some species of which are under threat. The roof garden at Fornebu S contributes positively to this biodiversity with the use of native plantlife. Fornebu S is the first shopping centre in the world to attain the BREEAM environmental certification of ‘outstanding’. The shopping centre, offices and other commercial areas are built to passive house standards while the housing is built according to TEK 10 building code guidelines.

Connection to the Oslo public transport system is an integral part of the environmental strategy of the scheme alongside access to electric car recharge stations and extensive bicycle parking. Timber cladding was selected for its low carbon footprint, renewability and the short distance from production to site. It also reflects the green context surrounding Fornebulandet and provides a challenge to traditional materials used in the shopping centre typology. The ambition of Fornebu S is to be a pioneer in the field of sustainable development and a precedent for future environmentally responsible shopping precincts.