AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.03.1994, Page 75

ENGLISH SUMMARY
PAGE 42: ACCIDENTS WAITING TO
HAPPEN
Dr. Haraldur Sigþórsson writes about road
safety. He discusses the complexity of
planning to reduce accidents. For instance,
drivers are often especially careful in places
which they perceive as dangerous, so that
few accidents occur. On the other hand,
accidents may be frequent in places where
drivers are not on their guard. People may
also compensate for stricter road safety
measures by driving more carelessly. Im-
proved road safety can not be achieved
simply by making improvements to regu-
lations and to the road system. It can only
be the result of a concerted effort to that
end.
PAGE 45: ICELAND AS A RESOURCE
A discussion of Trausti Valsson’s book
about Iceland and how it has developed,
and about ideas on the future of the proc-
ess.
PAGE 47: CONCRETE AND ITS SO-
CIAL VALUE
Concrete, a new construction material, ar-
ri ved in Iceland at approximately the same
time as the Icelanders began to gain a sense
of nationhood and work towards inde-
pendence. The first concrete house was
built in 1895, although a building had
already been constructed from precast
blocks as long ago as 1882-3. From about
1910 onwards, almost all major buildings
in Iceland were built of concrete. Concrete
was not only important as a construction
material for houses and other buildings, it
also opened up new possibilities in har-
bourconstruction, lighthouses, bridges and
hydroelectric power plants, all of which
were to play an important role in revolu-
tionizing the entire Icelandic way of life.
Research into concrete made from Icelan-
dic materials has produced many impor-
tant technical improvements. In 1965, the
Building Research Institute was founded.
The problem of high alkali content in Ice-
landic concrete has been a problem as
alkaline activity led to deterioration of the
concrete. However, the BRI has achieved
remarkable results by adding silicone to
Icelandic concrete.
PAGE54: FINAL PROJECT
Arinbjörn Vilhjálmsson graduated last year
in architecture from the University of Stutt-
gart in Germany. His final project was for
a concert hall at the old harbour in Reykja-
vík. The building is intended to be a
concert hall, opera house and music col-
lege, as well as functioning as a conference
centre. He builds upon the concept of
elven wonderlands, hidden within rocks,
which occur in Icelandic folklore.
PAGE60: TRIOLA
Triola is an unconventional coffee table
design by Emma Axelsdóttir and Elísabet
Ingvarsdóttir, interior designers.
PAGE 66: SKRÚÐUR; THE CONSER-
VATION OF A HISTORIC GARDEN
Landscape architect Oddur Hermannsson
of the State Horticultural School writes
about Skrúður, a unique experiment in
horticulture in Iceland. The garden was
made in 1906-08 at Núpur, Dýrafjörður in
the West Fjords region, by the Reverend
Sigtryggur Guðlaugsson. The garden,
which is 70 x 35 metres was intended to
show what could grow in Iceland, whether
decorative or edible. Its purpose was edu-
cational, as pupils at the school founded by
Sigtryggur and his brother learned not
only horticultural skills, but also the value
of eating fresh vegetables. The garden has
gradually been altered over the years. In
the 1960‘s and 70‘s it was developed into
a botanical garden of kinds, but since 1983
the garden has not been maintained, and
has fallen into a state of dilapidation. Al-
though the garden can never be restored to
its original form, plans are being made for
its renovation and conservation as unique
national treasure.
PAGE 77: THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY
IS NOT BLOOMING
Olöf Guðný Valdimarsdóttir interviews
upholsterer Grétar Arnason. He is con-
cerned about the situation in the furniture
industry in Iceland and fears that it may die
out completely. Although Icelandic furni-
ture designers are producing interesting
work, their best designs go abroad for
mass production. He feels that action must
be taken to improve the competitiveness of
Icelandic furniture production.
PAGE80: ENVIRONMENTALIMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Halldóra Hreggviðsdóttir of the Physical
Planning Agency writes about the applica-
tion of new legislation on environmental
impact assessment in Iceland.
PAGE86: MIDTERMOLEN
GesturOlafsson writes aboutMidtermolen,
a new development of the old dock area in
Copenhagen, which combines residential
and office development, as well as restau-
rants. Similar ideas could be applied in
Reykjavík for the development of the old
obsolete harbour area.
PAGE90: FLOORS
Architect GeirharðurÞorsteinsson writes
about the choice of different flooring ma-
terials for different spaces and rooms.
PAGE 94: A VISITOR’S CENTRE AT
GEIRANGERFJORDEN, NORWAY.
Icelandic architect Guðmundur Jónsson
has won, together with Kristín Jarmund, a
competition to design a visitor’s centre at
Geirangerfjorden in Norway. The centre
is due for completion in 1995. ■
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