Arkitektúr og skipulag - 01.09.1990, Page 80

ENGLISH SUMMARY
This issue of Arkitektúr og skipulag
(Architecture and Planning) focusses on environ-
mental issues. Although the environment is re-
ceiving increasing attention today, the situation is
still far from satisfactory. Icelanders have not yet
achieved harmony with their environment.
PAGE 11 A MINISTRY OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
Environment Minister Júlíus Sólnes
writes about the establishment earlier this year of
lceland’s first Ministry of the Environment, whose
areas of responsibility will cover such matters as
nature conservation and land reclamation, anti-
pollution measures, planning and land usage,
research in the environmental field, and an educa-
tional/information role. The minister particularly
emphasises the current urgent problems of waste
disposal and pollution by dangerous substances;
satisfactory solutions have yet to be found in these
areas. He points out that it is crucial to lceland’s
exports of foodstuffs to conserve a clean and
unpolluted environment.
PAGE 13 THE MAN-MADE
ENVIRONMENT
Bergljót S. Einarsdóttir and Hafdís
Hafliöadóttir write about the vital role of our
immediate, man-made environment, the space
created in streets and between buildings, which
can either encourage or discourage social
exchanges between people. In 1991, lceland will
host a Nordic environmental conference. The
theme of the local, man-made environment
featured to a limited extent at the last such con-
ference, held in Denmark. Next year's
conference will offer a welcome opportunity to
stimulate awareness of the issues.
PAGE 17 ICELANDIC LAND-
SCAPE.: A NATURAL RESOURCE
Landscape architect Auöur Sveinsdóttir
calls for the lcelanders of today to wake up to the
value of their country, which remains wilder and
more unspoilt than most others. She points out
that the natural environment has been
significantly altered over the centuries, largely
due to the poverty and ignorance of the people.
Today, however, this is no excuse for continuing
damage to the environment. Those who plan and
build must feel love for the land and its nature.
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PAGE 20 ENVIRONMENT,
CONSERVATION AND PLANNING
Stefan Thors, Director of Town Plan-
ning, writes about the environmental impact of
construction projects, a subject which has only
recently received attention in the Nordic world.
Aseminarwas held in Helsinki in March this year
on the evaluation of environmental effects. The
author summarises the systems which have
been introduced in the Nordic countries, and
points out their applicability in the lcelandic en-
vironment. Healsodiscussesthe methodwhich
has been developed in Denmark to record and
assess the conservation value of existing build-
ings. Danish architect Gregers Algreen-Ussing
visited lceland earlier this year to discuss this
subject with lcelandic planners.
PAGE 23 ICELAND AN ENVI-
RONMENTAL PARADISE
Stefán Friöfinnsson points out the
enormous potential value of the lcelandic
environment, unspoilt as it is. He suggests that
the lcelanders should stop apologising for their
climate and high prices, emphasising instead
the unique experiences that lceland has to offer,
the refreshing wind and rain. Hecommentsthat
lceland cannot cope with, and does not want,
visitors in their millions, and is therefore aiming at
a relatively small target group. He calls for a
dear and defined policy in tourism development.
PAGE27 PLANNING AND BULD-
ING IN THE HIGHLANDS
Stefán Thors, Director of Town Plan-
ning, discusses the thorny problem of
responsibility for planning in the unihabited
highland interior of lceland. Local authorities are
responsible for granting planning permission.
But the uninhabited highland areas are not cov-
ered by local authorityjurisdiction, and thus it is
not possible to apply for planning permission in
those areas. The probable solution to this
problem is to extend the existing local authority
areas to cover the entire country, i.e. divide up
the interior among many counties. A total
national plan or programme of land use,
including the highlands, is being prepared by
planning authorities. This plan would be
compiled from data supplied by many different
institutions, and would facilitate future decision-
making.
PAGE 30 A LONG- TERM
SOLUTION TO WASTE DISPOSALIN
THE CAPITAL AREA.
Ögmundur Einarsson describes the
new waste-packaging and -disposal plant under
construction in Reykjavík for the communities of
the capital area. Principal contractoron the proj-
ect is Ármannsfell hf. The plant will compress
and pack domestic waste which will then be
buried. Industrial waste, on the other hand, will
be sorted and to some extent re-cycled (timber
and metals). Facilities for more refined sorting of
e.g. paper, plastics, glass, rubber, can be in-
stalled at a laterdate. Hazardous substanceswill
be collected and sent abroad for disposal. The
waste disposal plant is due to open in spring
1991. Initial costs are estimated at ISK 550-600
million. The design is conceived as low-profile,
making the minimum impact on the environment.
Filtration systems ensure that the plant will not
pollute its environment.
PAGE33 HEAVY INDUSTRY AND
POWER PLANTS
Parliamentarian Birgir ísleifur Gunnarsson con-
siders the question of large-scale hydro-electric
power projects, supplying heavy industry with
energy - previously a highly controversial
issue.both in economic and environmental
terms.Several industrial projects have been
successfully developed, and further development
is probablin the form of a new aluminium smelter
and a new HEP plant to serve it. Various questions
have to be taken into account, such as the effects
of such new development on the environment, the
choice of location with regard to regional
development policies, etc. All precautions will be
taken to prevent such new projects causing
pollution or other damage to the environment.
PAGE 37 THINK OF THE BIG
PICTURE - BUILD DENSELY
Petter Næss discusses a Norwegian
project for environmentally-friendly urban
development, with particular reference to the
town of Borre/Horten.This involves constructing
new buildings within existing developed areas,
and ensuring a high standard of services and
public transport in order to reduce motor traffic.
Unconventional areas are developed for building
or as leisure areas. The dream of a detached
house with two cars in the garage cannot be fitted
into this more environmentally-conscious
scheme, which would limit e.g. size of plot, and
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