AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.04.2002, Qupperneq 75

development of the city which can form the foundation
of Reykjavík as an international city in this sense,
although these multiple goals call for coordinated
action in many departments of the City Administration.
Key issues which strengthen Reykjavík as an inter-
national city include; a strengthening of the city centre,
increased densities, redevelopment of old industrial
areas on the Nes for offices and housing, the building
of a concert hall and conference centre in the city cen-
tre, the development of new areas for high-tech and bio
tech firms and housing areas in the Vatnsmýri district,
a more efficient public transportation system and
improved pedestrian and bicycle networks.
The following are four main aspects of the Master
Plan, which contribute to the development of Reykjavík
as an international city.
Increased densitíes and more diverse
land use.
The Master Plan presupposes more intensification
within current built up areas and higher densities in
new districts than previous Master Plans. If the policy
of the Master Plan will be approved and realised, this
will be the first time in 60 years that densities are
increased and the decades-long urban sprawl will be
halted.
In the Master Plan, conditions are also made for
mixed land use in new districts where a certain part of
each district will be zoned as employment and other
parts as residential. The increased mixing of land use
and more dense development shortens the distance
between home and work, alters travel behaviour,
strengthens public transportation and leads to more
diverse and better sheltered districts. These two
aspects are very important with regard to improving the
living conditions in Reykjavík and to make the city more
competitive internationally.
Sustainable transportation
A city which wants to create an international image
needs unavoidably to strengthen public transportation.
The Master Plan contains a policy of certain priorities
for buses on the road network. These priorities are
exclusive lanes for buses and priorities at traffic lights.
The Master Plan also puts emphasis on improving
bicycle and pedestrian paths with a coordinated net-
work, where bridges or underpasses will be built across
mainroads.
The Development Plan also makes increased
demands as to the quality of the environment of pedes-
trians and cyclists in residential, industrial and central
areas. Increased quality of the built environment and
better design in the city, not the least in the city centre,
is a basic premise for Reykjavík in competing with
other cities for businesses and employees, tourists,
conferences and international events. The quality of
the built environment has to be increased by the care-
ful design of buildings, the creation of coordinated
streetscape and public spaces with an emphasis on
pedestrians. To emphasise the special aspects of
Reykjavík in international city competition, the vernac-
ular aspects should be stressed which refer to the
nature, land and history. It is just as important that
these references are found in individual buildings as in
the designed spaces between the buildings.
New employment areas are planned near to the city
centre and the University of lceland. To make Reykja-
vík and lceland more competitive internationally, desir-
able conditions have to be created for international
high-tech and information companies, along with the
strengthening of the existing industrial base. In the
Master Plan, new extensive employment areas in the
Vatnsmýri district are provided, which fulfill all common
requirements for high technology/genetics and science
parks and their location; proximity to university and
research institutes, university hospital, diverse activi-
ties in the central city, established housing areas, out-
door recreation and a good connection to the road net-
work. In the Vatnsmýri district, it is possible to create
desirable conditions for these rapidly growing activities
which can prove very important for the economic devel-
opment of the country. ■ Haraldur Sigurösson,