AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.06.2003, Side 63

Egill Guðmundsson, Architect
Istak:
Main Offices on
Engjateigur
creates a link between their main
offices. The experiences and
influences from a trip to
Thingvellir, lceland on a late
summer evening were the foun-
dation for the original design con-
cept of the building.
The building is divided into three
On Engjateigur, in Reykjavík, a
new building has been built to
house the main offices of the pro-
gressive, contracting- and build-
ing firm ístak. The building’s
design is symbolic for the compa-
ny’s activities, as it was undertak-
en in cooperation by two archi-
tectural firms, Arkís ehf. in
Reykjavík, lceland and KRH in
Copenhagen, Denmark, who col-
laborated on the project from its
inception. ístak management
also collaborated, contributing
their vast experience in this field.
The project underscores the fact
that boarders no longer exist in
design. An exchange of ideas
between architects and other
designers in different countries
was encouraged, to combine
knowledge and thought. This
construction symbolises the com-
mon image of ístak in lceland and
Phil and Son in Denmark, and
independent parts, with a
„crevice" separating them. In
addition, there is a shallow lake
and vertical walls with a certain
reference to Almannagjá and the
Thingvalla lake. In the „crevice"
are corridors, stairs and a lift con-
necting the different floors. The
interplay between forms, light and
shadows creates a frame for the
activities of ístak.
In planning the building, emphasis
61