AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.03.2004, Blaðsíða 11

Balance between Town
and Country
Herdís Á. Sæmundardóttir, Chairman of the Board,
Byggðastofnun
During the last years and decades,
considerable migration from the
countryside to the capital area has
taken place in lceland. This migration
has taken people by surprise
because of its magnitude and short
time. Its reasons are varied; less
weight of the fishing and farming
industries in the total employment of
the country, increased demand for
further education and new job
opportunities in the capital area,
increased possibilities and demand
for a varied lifestyle and, last but not
least, better communications in
lceland, increased travel abroad and
a shrinking world.
It is probable that this development
of the capital area will continue. The
question is, on the other hand, if and
how we can meet this development
in such a way that increased eqilibri-
um is created between the capital
area and the rest of the country. This
is a very pressing task, the aim of
which is to create conditions outside
the capital area so that people will
want to live there. These conditions
are partially contained in the unique-
ness of each area, but new condi-
tions are also needed, such as more
diversity in employment, increasingly
accessible education opportunities
and more employment for university
graduates. In other words, the same
aspects that have made the capital
area desirable as a place to live. It
should be borne in mind,
however.that some qualities are
found out in the country, and in
towns and villages, that are not pres-
ent in densely-built areas. One can
mention enough space for ínhabi-
tants and the resources of the sea
and land, which are much more
accessible in the country.
The concept of a service nucleus is
still valid and has been defined as
the largest towns which have the
greatest attraction for people and the
best possibilities of developing
employment, education, cultural
activities and official service. The
strengthening of such service nuclei
is based on several basic concepts:
• Improvement of the transportation
network, on one hand to ensure
good access to and from the capital
area and, on the other, to shorten
and improve transportation within
each area in order to enlarge the
employment and service area.
• Increased independence and
enlargement of local authorities so
that they can better offer inhabitants
the services demanded and can
influence the development of social
lífe in its area. With larger local
authorities comes the opportunity to
move more tasks from the state to
them, thereby creating more jobs for
qualified people.
• Development of institutions of fur-
ther- and university education. It is
undisputed that the influence of uni-
versities is both great and varied.
New ideas and job opportunities are
created and increased knowledge
and education enables people to
spearhead new advances. With
increased education and research, it
is possible to build a knowledge
community that attracts people with
advanced education. New job oppor-
tunities and more jobs that require
more education can meet a reduc-
tion in primary production.
• Official employment of different
kinds should be better distributed
around the country to enable people
to use their education outside of the
capital area.
Along with the strengthening of
development outside the capital area
and the creation of service nuclei as
mentioned before, the local authori-
ties in many cases have to create
their self-image, such as a conscious
cultural life or the development of
human qualities and employment
connected to the specific potential of
each area. This can be very influen-
tial and positive, increasing the drive
and creative energy of residents and
strengthening the image of the area,
making it an inviting place to visit and
live.
Daily discussions often pit Reykjavík
against the rest of the country. It is
important to look at lceland as a
whole. Reykjavík is not only the local
authority of those living there, it is our
capital city and as such has to play
many roles. People out in the country
need the city to provide easily acces-
sible and dynamic work opportunities
and cultural life. This is a somewhat
complicated question. Air and land
transport are important. In today s
rush, it is important to ensure that
people out in the country - such as
heads of companies, institutions and
local authorities - can travel to the
city in the morning and return at
night. Looking ahead, it is unlikely
that an airport will remain in the cen-
tre of the capital city. But when
future air transport to the the city will
be decided, it is important to bear in
mind the needs of the country dis-
tricts. On the other hand, it is also
important to aim for a more dense
development within the capital area
to improve access and shorten travel
distances.
In this article I have touched upon
some main issues concerning
increased balance in the develop-
ment of the country. There is now
some indication that the migration to
the capital area will slow down. I also
feel that the understanding of the
reciprocal importance of town and
country is increasing. If that is true,
we can hope for better days
because the prosperous develop-
ment of lceland is not least of all
founded on balanced development,
bearing in mind the above basic
issues. ■
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