Arkitektúr og skipulag - 01.12.1988, Page 97

ENGLISH SUMMARY
This issue of Arkitektúr og
skipulag (Architecture and
Planning) focuses on Renew-
al and Maintenance. We take
a look at the question of
building durability, and indi-
vidual features spotlight
planning decisions, redevelop-
ment plans, grassroots move-
ments, historic houses, tradi-
tional methods of construc-
tion and building con-
servation in Iceland.
Page 7
Forging Forms of Iceland
Tryggvi Hansen argues for
a concept of architecture
which takes Icelandic nature,
human relations and age-old
building methods (e.g. turf
construction) as its basis,
rather than imposing itself
upon the landscape.
Page 11
Architecture of Former
Times - conservation and
restoration
Þorsteinn Gunnarsson con-
siders the importance of Vi-
ðeyjarstofa (Viðey House),
built on the island of Viðey
outside Reykjavík 300 years
ago. Designed by Danish ar-
chitect Eigtved and built of
cut stone, Viðey House was
the first of a number of ambi-
tious new buildings under-
taken at the end of the 18th
century, including Hólar Ca-
thedral, Bessastaðir (now the
presidential residence) and
Reykjavík Cathedral.
In restoring these build-
ings, detailed research into
the structure is of the utmost
importance. The author lists
some of the factors which
contribute to successful res-
toration — specialized archi-
tects, first-class craftsmen,
increased finance, ongoing
maintenance, etc.
Page 17
Building Conservation by
the National Museum
Þór Magnússon, curator of
the National Museum of Ice-
land, traces the museum’s
role in building conservation
from its first project, under-
taken in 1914, until today,
when it is responsible for 22
structures around the coun-
try. Some serve as local folk
museums and the churches
are open to the public even
where they no longer serve
parishes.
Under legislation passed in
1969, a Building Conserva-
tion Council was founded,
and 1975 saw the establish-
ment of a Building Conserva-
tion Fund. The Fund mainly
contributes to conservation
work on buildings still in use,
e.g. churches, or old houses
now used as restaurants or
shops.
Page 20
A Pyramid in Vogar
How an innovative house
design by Vífill Magnússon
was put into practice, in re-
cord time and at small ex-
pense — the design requires
very little concrete. The
ground area is 110 square
metres.
Page 23
A Library Extension at
Akureyri
The Amtsbókasafn library
at Akureyri, which dates
back to 1827, is housed in a
building designed by Gunn-
laugur Halldórsson in 1962.
When it became clear that
the library needed more
space, a competition was
held for an extension. The
winner was Guðmundur
Jónsson, and the new build-
ing is now under construc-
tion.
Page 26
Will the City of Reykjavík
Need Rebuilding in the Near
Future?
Ríkharður Kristjánsson
discusses the problems of
maintenance and deteriora-
tion arising in concrete build-
ings in Iceland, and points
out the importance of re-
search programmes, which
may however be threatened
by government cutbacks.
Page 29
„The Voice of the People“
Thoughts on Building
Conservation in Reykjavík -
the last two decades
Magnús Skúlason traces
the changing trends of the
past 20 years, from conserva-
tion of individual buildings to
today’s policy of allowing
whole districts and sections
to remain in their original
form.
Up to about 1970, the city
experienced a period of de-
velopment when old (gener-
ally wooden) buildings were
seen as too humble to be in-
teresting, and also a fire haz-
ard, and were demolished al-
most indiscriminately.
The turning point came in
1970, when two architects,
having carried out a detailed
survey of buildings in the
city, suggested that a row of
old houses on downtown
Lækjargata be allowed to
stand.
Grassroot groups were
formed in various sections of
the city which were due for
transformation. The new
pressure in favour of conser-
vation instead of redevelop-
ment has had several success-
es, and also some failures.
At present, the two most
controversial planning areas
are Kvos (the old city centre)
and the Skúlagata/Skuggi dis-
trict (a central site overlook-
ing the sea).
Page 38
A New Building in the
City Centre
The Icelandic Literary So-
ciety and others were prom-
ised, in 1986, a central build-
ing plot at Lækjargata 4, and
held a closed competition
among five architects. The
design submitted by Knútur
Jeppesen was chosen, al-
though the judges felt that
the exterior needed to be
made more relevant to the
present.
Page 42
Environmental Prize
The Association of
Municipalities in the Capital
Area awards prizes each year
for contributions to environ-
mental improvements in the
area. In 1988 the prize went
to the City of Reykjavík for
improvements to the city’s
drainage system, and for the
ARKITEKTÚR OG SKIPULAG