AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.12.1998, Síða 72

english sum
This issue of AVS focuses on land-
scape architecture in Iceland, which
first became a recognized profes-
sion inthel950s.
PAGE 9: ICELANDIC LAND-
SCAPE ARCHITECTURE
In his editorial Gestur Olafsson
notes that Icelandic society has
undergone tremendous changes in
the latter part of this century, having
gone from being a rural to a mostly
urban society. This has not been
without growing pains and there has
been some reticence in embracing
new ideas. This has been very evi-
dent in the fields of architecture and
landscape architecture. Neverthe-
less, other nations can surely leam
something from Icelanders with
regards to creating a workable liv-
ing environment in the northern
hemisphere. In closing, the editor
congratulates the Association of
Icelandic Landscape Architects on
its 20 years of operations.
PAGE 11: ASSOCIATION OF
ICELANDIC LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS - 20 YEARS
Here landscape architect Reynir
Vilhjálmsson traces the develop-
ment of the Association of Icelandic
Landscape Architects from its
beginnings and discusses the role of
the landscape architect in Icelandic
society today.
PAGE 13: GREEN TRACKS IN
THE REYKJAVÍK AREA
Here Björn Axelsson, landscape
architect, writes about „green
spaces“ in Reykjavík and surround-
ings. He begins by discussing six
planning possibilities for such
spaces in a given urban area and
then moves on to discuss Reykja-
vík’s master land use plan 1996-
2016. The plan is based on five
main planning concepts, all' of
which are described in considerable
detail.
PAGE 18: STONE CEMETERY
WALLS
In this article landscape architect
Guðmundur Rafn Sigurðsson,
director of the cemetery planning
committee, writes about the advan-
tages of having traditional stone
walls around cemeteries. He argues
that while stone walls may initially
be more costly than walls made of
more modem materials the invest-
ment is worth it. Provided that the
work is professionally done stone
walls are low-maintenance, long-
lasting and create a much more
attractive environment than walls
made of less costly material.
PAGE21: LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE AND PROD-
UCT DEVELOPMENT
Here landscape architect Þuríður
Ragna Stefánsdóttir discusses the
link between landscape architecture
and product development, citing as
an example the co-operation in
Iceland between landscape archi-
tects and the company BM Vallá,
which manufactures stone slabs.
The company has in the past
designed products to architects’
specifications, which later have
become a part of its regular product
range.
PAGE 22: PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT IN LAUGAR-
DALUR VALLEY
This article by landscape architect
Reynir Vilhjálmsson traces devel-
opment in Laugardalur valley. He
discusses initial experiments with
tree cultivation, Reykjavík’s master
land use plan 1962-83 and finally
the local plan approved in 1986. He
m a r y
lists the main goals that were then
set and concludes that they have
been reached. Finally, the author
lists those individuals who were
most instmmental in making those
goals a reality.
PAGE 28: OUTDOOR RECRE-
ATION IN THE HENGILS
AREA
Hengilssvæði - the Hengils area - is
a large area east of Reykjavík
known for its geothermal activity
and natural beauty. In this article,
landscape architect Gísli Gíslason
discusses the advantages of the
region as an outdoor leisure area
and details developments already
made for making it accessible to
outdoor enthusiasts, particularly
hikers. He also makes recommen-
dations for future developments in
other outdoor leisure areas near
Reykjavík.
PAGE 32: URBAN FORESTS
AND TREES
The subject of this article by land-
scape architect Ragnhildur Skarp-
héðinsdóttir is an intemational col-
laboration on urban forest and tree
cultivation, initiated by the Euro-
pean Union. The author is Iceland’s
representative on a working com-
mittee that the EU has appointed for
the next five years. In the article she
gives an account of what has tran-
spired so far on the two occasions
that the committee has met.
PAGE 34: CONSTRUCTION AT
EIRÍKSSTAÐIR
Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur, west
Iceland, is believed to have been the
home of Eric the Red, father of Leif
the Lucky, who discovered Amer-
ica. Plans are now underway to con-
struct a living history museum at
Eiríksstaðir to commemorate the
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