AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.04.2002, Page 37

1) Sjá „Hluti úr skýrslu”. Fornleifarannsóknir á lóöunum
Aöalstræti 14-18, Fornleifastofnun íslands, FS156-00161.
2) Vinnuhópinn skipa: Anna Margrét Guöjónsdóttir, Helga
Jónsdóttir, Stefán Hermannsson, Porvaldur S. Þorvaldsson,
Gunnur Geröur Gunnarsdóttir, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, Sveinn
Hannesson og Óskar Magnússon.
3) Lesbók Morgunblaösins - Menning/listir 23. febr. 2002.
THE “SETTLEMENT HALL” in aðal
stræti
The corner of Aöalstræti and Túngata is of great value
to the history of Reykjavík. Oftentimes, considerable
discussion has arisen regarding the future development
of this area. To our best knowledge, the first settlers
built their homes in this area and therefore, it is only
natural that opinions differ as to its future development
and the direction it takes.
A proposal was submitted to City Authorities in 2000
by the firm Innréttingar, ehf. to build a hotel on the sites
of Aðalstræti 14-18 and Túngata 2-4. During a prelimi-
nary archeological excavation to remove remains
known to exist at the site, not many artifacts were
found, other than three walrus teeth and some import-
ed objects. However, the largest of three halls from the
Viking Age known to exist in Reykjavík was uncovered.
In most respects typical for Viking Age buildings, the
Kvos site is unique because of an unusual fireplace and
special rocks found in the site’s walls. The hall is the
oldest-known example of the building form that later
became predominant in the construction of lcelandic
turf houses.
In light of the discovery, city authorities decided to
plan an exhibition of this important find together with
other archeological artifacts detailing Reykjavík’s histo-
ry by building a museum around the Viking Age hall.
Architects for the hotel Teiknistofan, Skólavörðustíg
28b sf. and Landslag ehf. were commissioned to design
the exhibition space and its access, a difficult task as
the site is in an old built area. The solution can be seen
in the architects' drawing where access to the
Exhibition Hall is taken through Víkurgarður and under
Aðalstræti. The neighbourhood’s historic value is
strengthened by the exhibition as it connects two impor-
tant eras in the city’s history, the Settlement Period and
the Beginning of Christianity, to the area. Further his-
toric documenting will emphasise displaying the site in
the street and garden, where archeological research
has to be carried out before construction can begin.
Due to the special nature of this project, it was decid-
ed to approach the preliminary design of the exhibition
in an unusual way. Considerable preparatory work was
carried out among scholars, students and travel experts
to meet demanded analysis of the site.
Instead of accepting open design proposals for the
project, the City of Reykjavík decided to approach cer-
tain individuals with different backgrounds; architects,
scenery designers, artist, and even an actor. The group
met several times to propose ideas and submitted their
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