Lögberg-Heimskringla - 21.06.1985, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 21.06.1985, Blaðsíða 5
WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 21. JÚNÍ 1985-5 The Torfa Houses Photos Páll Stefánsson by Adalsteinn Ingólfsson Every capital city has at least two centres, one historical and the other commercial. The centre of Reykjavik is perhaps not large enough to warrant such a division. But if one wanted to be precise, it would be possible to say that the city's historical centre consisted of the area around Althing square, Austurvöllur, and adjoining streets, including the busy Laekjargata thoroughfare to the east. Bankastraeti, the street of banks, starts by Laekjargata's main square, Laekjartorg, and continues eastwards, changing its name to Laugavegur, the road of hot wells, after a few hundred metres. Nowadays one doesn’t see women trudging up Laugavegur with their dirty laundry, heading for the open- air hot water trough at the top of the street — only án endless succession of shops and other businesses. Thus Bankastraeti and Laugavegur could be called the city’s traditional commercial lifeline. Where Laekjargata joins Bankastraeti, history meets commerce, and there we find the real heart of Reykjavik. Most people go through there on their way to and from work; small restaurants, galleries and coffee houses may be found close by; and at least two venerable buildings provide a focus of interest. One houses the Reykjavik College, the oldest establishment of higher education in the country, the other is Government House (IR 1, 1984), a building in a similar 18th- century style, where both the President and the Prime Minister have their offices. On sunny days people gather in front of the oid houses in Laekjargata, to celebrate holidays, to talk, listen to music by passing troubadors or to play chess A view of the Torfa houses as they appear today. Bankastraeti is to the left of them on the giant chessboard, designed by sculptor Jón Gunnar Arnason, set up there three years ago. On such days it is hard to imagine how this part of town, the grass- covered incline and the beautifully restored houses facing it, could ever have been controversial. But a decade ago, this area, commonly known as Torfan (The Turf), came close to dividing the people of Reykjavik into two factions: pro and anti restorers. Now even former diehard opponents of restoration proudly point out the Torfa houses to their foreign friends, or take them there for meals in the two small restaurants located in the very same buildings. Strictly speaking, the much discussed Torfa consists of only four buildings that stand on a grassy knoll between Bankastraeti and the tiny street of Amtmannsstígur, but together with the Reykjavík College and Government House they form what Danish architecture historian Helge Finsen called "the only unbroken line of pre-20th century town houses in Iceland." He was also the first to call for their preservation, back in 1956. They were originally built between 1834 and 1905 by some of Reykjavík's most prominent citizens, and were considered among the town's attractions. Three of them were built in the prevailing Danish fashion, from brick held in place by a sturdy timber structure which was then clad with either vertical or hor- izontal weather boarding. The fourth house in the row, the so-called Gimli building, was built in 1905 out of concrete blocks — the first time such a technique was used in Iceland. There are other structural features which make these houses important for Iceland's architectural history. The Gimli building has iron reinforc- ing in two places, another first in Iceland, and also boasts the country's first central heating system. An Continued on page 6 Icelanders have always been chess enthusiasts. In the aftermath of the Spassky-Fischer match in Reykjavik, 1972, this giant chess board and chessmen were designed by sculptor Jón Gunnar Arnason and eventually placed in front of the Torfa houses. On sunny days, they have proven to be very popular. Þjóðræknisfélag íslendinga í Vesturheimi FORSETI: OLI NARFASON Gimli, Manitoba ICELANDIC NATIONAL LEAGUE Support the League and its Chapters by joining; MEMBERSHIP: Individuals $3.00 Families $5.00 Mail your cheque to your local Chapter or Lilja Arnason, 1057 Dominion St., Winnipeg, Man. R3E 2P3

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