The project is based on the principle that Kildn shall mainly be accessed by sea. The project’s environmental strategy is to use maritime transport and encourage shipowners to transition quickly from fossil fuels to fully electric vessels. This will enable zero-emission growth and support the Norwegian government policy of shifting freight from road to sea[1]. There is a strong possibility of developing a regional fast ferry network.

Western Norway’s geography with its many coastal communities, small ports and quays, fjords and bays makes it the ideal place to develop sustainable maritime transport networks. The project is based on the principle that Kildn shall mainly be accessed by sea. The project’s environmental strategy is to use maritime transport and encourage shipowners to transition quickly from fossil fuels to fully electric vessels. This will enable zero-emission growth and support the Norwegian government policy of shifting freight from road to sea[1]. There is a strong possibility of developing a regional fast ferry network. Western Norway’s geography with its many coastal communities, small ports and quays, fjords and bays makes it the ideal place to develop sustainable maritime transport networks.

The plan is for Kildn to have more functions than those traditionally associated with a home port for cruise ships and ferries, and for all future access to be by sea. The exceptions to this are buses, taxis and other important land-based transport modes. This means that Kildn isn’t dependent on land-based infrastructure. Its access to the sea will allow it to handle big ships and ferries that can take up a lot of space in a city centre.

That is one way in which Kildn will benefit the community, because as well as providing an upgrade to the existing port functions, it will also free up valuable parts of Bergen for urban densification and redevelopment. Kildn also has great potential as a destination in its own right, and it will help spread out “overtourism” across more locations.

Kildn challenges existing concepts of the role and architecture of ports. Its design and functions are defined by the clear vision that it shall be a zero-emission port.

Green architecture can be described as practical techniques for building sustainably. The design criteria are based on environmental specifications, which means there is a greater focus on creating a structure that enables more sustainable use of both materials and labour.

Green architecture looks carefully at how energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions can be used to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, as well as to improve the indoor climate. Often, the green architecture is also reflected in the building’s appearance. Its shape and positioning are in harmony with its surroundings. A fundamental principle for green architecture is looking at the whole life cycle of the building from an environmental perspective: right from the concept, through construction and operation, to the end of the building’s life.

Kildn’s vision is to become Norway’s first zero-emission port. If all Norwegian ports are to complete their transition to zero-emission operation by 2030, enormous investment will be required, as well as a better and broader understanding of how to implement the transition. Three key aspects of the transition will be processes, the initial planning stages and investment models.