AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.03.2003, Qupperneq 68

Þorvaldur S. Þorvaldsson, City Architect
Architecture
policy for
Reykjavík
The job description for the post of
Reykjavík City Architect states, “The
City Architect shall formulate policy
with regard to the character and
appearance of the built environ-
ment in the city, including roads,
street furniture, squares, green
areas, views, lighting, streetscape
et al., which pertains to the appear-
ance and aesthetic of the city.”
In this light a working group was
assembled under the direction of
the City Architect last autumn to
prepare policy for the post.
Members of the group are:
ÞorvaldurS. Þorvaldsson, Clty
Architect, Chairman; Anna Margrét
Guðjónsdóttir, Office of Cultural
Affairs, Secretary; Guðmundur
Pálmi Kristinsson, Property Dept. of
Reykjavík; Hjörleifur Stefánsson,
Association of lcelandic Architects;
Ólöf Örvarsdóttir, Planning
Department; Pétur H. Ármannsson,
The City Art Gallery; Pjetur Stefáns-
son, Union of lcelandic Artists;
Dagný Helgadóttir, Property Dept.
of Reykjavík; Dennis Jóhannesson,
Association of lcelandic Architects;
and Ágústa Kristófersdóttir, The
City Art Gallery.
A considerable amount of already-
existing material has been evaluat-
ed. The group has culled informa-
tion regarding similar policy making
from foreign countries, such as
Scandinavia and Scotland, compar-
ing it to work done in November
2001 conference on Cultural Policy
in Architecture held at the Nordic
House. Local materials, such as the
Ráðhúsið í Reykjavik
Town Hall, Reykjavík.
pioneering work in Akureyri done
by Árni Ólafsson, have also been
considered. Basic Architectural
Policy is also contained in the
development plan for the City of
Reykjavík, detailed plans, the devel-
opment policy for the Central City
as well as district plans.
During the first meetings of the
working group the following ideas
were discussed: Why an
Architectural Policy? What is spe-
cial about Reykjavík and in what
respects is it unique?
The following abstract has been
compiled from discussions held at
these meetings.
Why an Architectural
Rolicy?
Environment influences the health
and happiness of people and there-
fore it is important to take careful
notice of the built environment. An
ever-larger proportion of the coun-
try’s inhabitants will live in an urban,
man-made environment the greater
part of their lives. It is a human right
to live in a good environment.
With an architectural policy, it is
intended to show an economic gain
from the creation of a good envi-
ronment, strengthening the ties
between generations and empha-
sizing the cultural affinity of the
inhabitants.
Emphasis is put on showing the
possibilities of the city, also giving
thought to the architectural heritage
at the same time. Seeing the posi-
tive side of the unbuilt can be even
more interesting than what already
exists.

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