AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.03.1995, Page 55

E N G L I
well as e.g. the function of the build-
ing: a covering for a school building
must be chosen to tolerate children’s
use, and to ensure there is no risk of
children hurting themselves. The
Building Research Institute is now
carrying out research into ventilated
sidings, together with a number of
other bodies. Plaster/mortar coverings
provide an alternative to siding. In this
case, there is no ventilation gap. The
mortar layer is fixed directly on the
outside of the insulation layer. The
covering is invariably in two layers,
acrylic coverings forming a thinner
covering than cement-based cover-
ings. Research into the qualities of this
kind of covering is now being carried
out by the Building Research Institute.
PAGE 33 ICELANDIC MORTAR
COVERING SYSTEM
Architect Egill Guðmundsson writes
about the ELGO method of covering
concrete buildings, manufactured by
Steinprýði hf. Polystyrene insulation
is bolted or glued to the wall. This
covered with base mortar, reinforced
with fibreglass. The top layer is ce-
ment-based mortar, which can be fin-
ished with various kinds of textured
surface.
PAGE 35 A WOODEN HOUSE
WITH CORRUGATED IRON
SIDING
The writer describes his decision to
covering the exterior of his timber
home with corrugated iron siding, in
a variant of the old Icelandic building
tradition.
PAGE 36 KÓPAVOGUR ART
GALLERY - GERÐARSAFN
The gallery bears the name of artist
Gerður Helgadóttir, whose family do-
nated 1,400 of her works to the town
S H S U
of Kópavogur in 1977. The museum
is adjacent to the church in
Kópavogur, whose stained-glass win-
dows were designed by Gerður
Helgadóttir. The design of the museum
aims to avoid overshadowing the
church: hence it comprises two one-
storey units. It is clad on the outside
with reddish granite from northern
Spain. The two exhibition galleries,
210 and 237 square metres, can be di-
vided up into smaller units. A sculp-
ture garden is planned outside the
museum.
PAGE 39 FURNITURE AND FIX-
TURES
Interior designer Kjartan Jónsson
writes about 1969-94 in the second
part of his summary of the past fifty
years. „Hippy“ influences made their
impact on interior decoration during
this period. Mass-produced imported
goods also had a severe impact on Ice-
landic production and tailor-made fit-
tings. Since the late 80s, eclecticism
has been growing. Companies often
express their image through their fur-
niture and fittings: for instance, banks
now try to present a „softer“ image
than used to be the case.
PAGE 45 THE ITALIAN CITY
Historian Halldóra Arnardóttir writes
aboul the history and development of
the Italian city, and how planning au-
thorities conceive the future expansion
of old-established urban centres in
new ways.
PAGE 48 MAGNHÚS
Fifteen years ago, metalworker
Magnús Thorvaldsson came up with
the idea of a low-cost house,
„Magnhús,“ which could be erected
from pre-fabricated units. An experi-
mental house was built to try out the
M M A R Y
method, and has proved satisfactory,
but the inventor was not able to pur-
sue or develop the idea, due to lack of
interest. This is probably due to the
conservatism of the Icelandic build-
ing industry, and also to a fear that
cheaper housing would mean loss of
business in traditional construction.
PAGE 55 STANDARDS FOR LEI-
SUREAREAS
The Nordic Council of Ministers ini-
tiated a pan-Nordic project on leisure
areas, in an attempt to establish a set
of standards. In the event, no strict
standards were laid down, but a set of
aims for the future was drawn up. This
includes small open areas within 50m
of the home, larger local parks within
200m, and district parks within 500-
800m, as well as a green belt outside
the urban area.
PAGE 59 TWENTY YEARS OF
EPAL
Fríða Björnsdóttir writes about furni-
ture company Epal, founded 20 years
ago by Eyjólfur Pálsson, who had
studied furniture design in Denmark.
In addition to importing well-designed
furniture, Epal promoted and exhib-
ited Icelandic art and design. The com-
pany has worked with Icelandic de-
signers and produced Icelandic-de-
signed furniture. Epal has contributed
to the Icelandic public’s greater appre-
ciation of quality and design.
PAGE 63 KÓPAVOGUR TOWN
PLAN 1992-2012
Kópavogur, a neighbouring town to
Reykjavík, has grown l'ast since be-
ing established in 1948, and is likely
to continue to do so. The town plan
assumes population growth of 10,000,
to 27,000, by the year 2012. ■
53