Arkitektúr og skipulag - 01.12.1992, Page 49

ENGLISH SUMMARY
costs. Steel-frame buildings are almost
unknown in Iceland, while in other
countries a large proportion of homes are
built from pre-fabricated units. A few such
houses have been built in Iceland, and the
construction costs seems to be considerably
lower than for a conventional concrete
house. The introduction of European
standards for steehframe buildings should
also smooth the way for more such structures
in Iceland.
PAGE 33. A TERRACED HOUSE
FOR AN APARTMENT
Erlendur Birgisson discusses the economies
of scale which can be made when a housing
development of 50 or more identical houses
is built, as in other countries, as against the
individual approach applied in Iceland.
The author also mentions economies like
laying piping on the outside of walls, of
leaving walls unplastered if they are cast in
smooth moulds, insulating on the exterior,
etc. This kind of economy could mean that
a terraced house was no more expensive
than a roomy flat in an apartment block.
But Icelanders concentrate on square
metres, not the property as a whole, and
quality and price are not linked properly in
their minds.
PAGE 35. ENVIRONMENT CONFER-
ENCE IN RIO
Eiður Guðnason, Minister for the
Environment, writes about the Rio
conference last spring. He discusses the
aims of the conference and the results, in
terms of agreements reached on protection
of the atmosphere, biodiversity, etc. He
sums up by considering the implications for
Iceland, which he says cannot stand aside
while the other nations of the world form a
future policy on envíronmental issues.
PAGE 39. PLANNING AND THE
ENVIRONMENT IN EUROPE A.D.
2000
Stefán Thors, State Town-Planning
Director, writes about the changing nature
of European collaboration: in “Europe 200”,
the EC involves itself for the first time in
planning issues. Many countries have
prepared their visions of the future, “with
themselves at the centre,” such as Denmark,
S weden (looking towards the de velopment
of the Baltic area in coming decades), etc.
The author points out the potential for
more collaboration between Iceland and
other peripheral areas to the new strong
Europe. Iceland could also have possibilities
as a link between the two sides of the
Atlantic. Perhaps Iceland, too, could
produce its view of the future, with Iceland
in the middle.
PAGE 46. IN THE NORTHERLY
BREEZE - THOUGHTS ON THE
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
Sverrir Tómasson writes about the history
of the University of Iceland’s campus in the
windy west of Reykjavík, which has been
gradually built up, in a variety of styles, and
has ever-growing needs for space. Denser
development within the existing campus
area has possibilities, as does extension
into the adjacent open area of Vatnsmýri.
Dispersing university institutions around
the city, in among business and insdustry,
does not accord with old ideas of a keeping
scholarship separate, but could prove a
productive solution.
PAGE 49. VILNIUS, CAPITAL OF
LITHUANIA
Juosaz Vaskevicius, chairman of the
Architects’ Association of Lithuania, writes
about the history, development and
architecture of Vilnius. Long periods of
Polish and then Russian rule, and German
occupation in World War I, were followed
by independence in 1918. The country was
Soviet-ruled from 1940 till 1990. Vilnius,a
town of 200,000 people before World War
II, lost half its population in the war, and
did not regain its pre-war size until 1965.
Plans made during the period of Soviet rule
emphasised state-owned high-rise
developments, while the policy now favours
low-rise privately-owned housing.
Increasing emphasis is being placed on
good insulation, as Lithuanians now have
to pay market prices for fuel. Many different
styles of architecture have survived in
V ilnius, such as medieval streets and Gothic
buildings, but the baroque is particulary
well represented.
PAGE 52. RIMASKÓLI - TENDER
AND DESIGN
Various architects, engineers and others
discuss a current controversy in Iceland -
the way in which the City of Reykjavík
organised a tender for the design of a new
school, Rimaskóli. This was not a
conventional open or closed competition,
but an invitation to certain parties to tender.
The Architects’ Association and the
Association of Engineering Consultants
protested, and suggestedthattheir members
not participate. The tender was, however,
held, and one design chosen. Some of those
who write feel that the form of the tender
has proved economical and satisfactory,
others feel that in principle it may be a good
thing but was not properly prepared in the
case, while yet others express the view that
this kind of tender does not accord with
architects’ and designers’ professional
integrity.
PAGE 57. HOTEL AND CATERING
SCKOOL IN LYON
A project produced for the University of
Architecture, Oslo. The school is designed
to include a hotel, restaurants, health
centre, plus conference facilities, in addition
to tuition facilities, student accommo-
dation, etc. The “guest” and “student”
sections lie along two different axes. The
building is of concrete, with steel in the
upper floor and roof, with exterior walls
entirely of glass.
PAGE 62. FREE ADVICE
This periodical is now offering free advice
to its subscribers in their construction and
planning projects. On these pages, the
periodical’s adviser considers possibities for
re-designing two floors of an old house.
PAGE 64. COMPETITION FOR
INGÓLFSTORG AND GRÓFATORG
A closed competition was held between six
architects/groups of architects, for ideas for
this hitherto-unused space in Reykjavík’s
Old T own. The judges chose the suggestion
submitted by Elín Kjartansdóttir, Helga
Benediktsdóttir and Haraldur Omjónsson.
PAGE 66. HARMONY
Jóhanna Harðardóttir writes about the
“Harmoni”, a piece of furniture which
combines features of a cupboard, chest of
drawers and lectem.
PAGE 68. OBITUARY: HALLDÓR H.
JÓNSSON
Gestur Ólafsson writes about the career of
Halldór H. Jónsson, architect and
businessman. He was not a slave to the
conventions of modernism, but designed
buildings in his own distinctive personal
style.
PAGE 72. THERE IS SO MUCH LIFE
IN STONES
Jóhanna Harðardóttir visits Brynhildur
Einarsdóttir, collector of stones, who has
created her own unique decorations for her
garden.
PAGE 76. ON THE DRAWING
BOARD: SKÓGAR FOLK MUSEUM
The extension of the Folk Museum at
Skógar is no longer, in fact, on the drawing
board, but is nearing completion. The
original museum building was completed
in 1955. The new building, 780 sq. m., was
designed by Grétar Markússon and Stefán
Örn Stefánsson.
PAGE 79. ANTIQUES
Jóhanna Harðardóttir writes about
candelabra, whether made of precious
metals or base, decorative or plain.
PAGE 82. FINNISH DESIGN
Architect Guðjón Bjarnason discusses
recent work of architects Markku Komonen
and Mikko Heikkinen. ■
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