AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.06.1998, Page 62

In this issue of AVS, the spotlight is
on the municipality of Kópavogur,
which is adjacent to Reykjavík.
Kópavogur has undergone tremen-
dous changes in recent years and is
now a vibrant and self-sufficient
community.
PAGE 10: KÓPAVOGUR - CEN-
TRE OF THE CAPITAL AREA
This article discusses the energetic
development of the municipality of
Kópavogur, from its beginnings as a
sleepy „suburb" primarily inhabited
by commuters, to its present status
as a vibrant community in its own
right. At present it is the fastest-
growing township in Iceland.
Important prerequisites for contin-
ued prosperity are discussed.
PAGE 14: SHOULD LOCAL
GOVERNMENT INTERVENE
IN THE ECONOMY?
Here the author examines to what
extent municipal government
should be involved in the local
economy
Examples are given of ineffective
participation in local businesses,
and the resulting adversities. The
author feels that the role of the
municipal governments should be
limited to creating conditions for
healthy business operations. A
description of a marketing office
founded in Kópavogur two years
ago is used to illustrate this point.
PAGE 16: AN OUTDOOR-
RECREATION TOUR OF
KÓPAVOGUR
We are taken on a tour of the main
outdoor recreation areas in Kópa-
vogur. As the author points out, the
opportunities for outdoor recreation
in the township are numerous:
walking, horse riding, swimming,
skiing, sailing, jogging, tennis, ball
sports and golf.
PAGE 19: ART AND CULTURE
IN KÓPAVOGUR
An independent and vibrant cultural
life flourishes in Kópavogur,
despite the township’s close prox-
imity to Reykjavík, the nation’s cul-
tural centre. Kópavogur operates
three major cultural institutions,
without state funding: Gerðarsafn -
the Municipal Art Museum, The
Kópavogur Municipal Library and a
natural history institute. In addition,
the township offers support to vari-
ous individuals or associations in
the cultural realm, such as the
school of music, the school of visu-
al art, the municipal theatre associa-
tion and the municipal choir.
PAGE 23: SENIOR CITIZENS
IN KÓPAVOGUR
This article gives a description of
services for seniors in Kópavogur.
Two community centres for seniors
exist; one built in 1993 and the
other in 1997. Kópavogur initiated
a new approach to serving its
seniors, which other municipalities
have subsequently adopted.
PAGE 26: SMÁRATORG: A
NEW SHOPPING COMPLEX
IN THE HEART OF KÓPA-
VOGUR
The subject here is the new retail
market currently under construction
in Kópavogur. An architect in-
volved in the design of the complex
describes its development, in-
cluding the main concepts behind
its design and construction, the
materials used, the businesses and
services to be found there, and
more.
PAGE 30: THE KÓPAVOGUR
CULTURAL CENTRE
Construction of the Kópavogur cul-
tural centre is divided into two
stages, with the first of those cur-
rently underway. That section of the
centre will house a music school
and a concert hall, whereas the sec-
ond section will house a library and
premises for the natural history
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