AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.03.2004, Blaðsíða 35

Planning a Workers' Village
at Kárahnjúkar
Björn Kristleifsson, Architect and
Sveinn Þórarinsson, Engineer
At the request of the lcelandic Power
Company for the local authority,
Norður-Hérað, a detail plan propos-
ing four workers' villages at the
Kárahnjúkar aluminum-smelter proj-
ect in east lceland was prepared.
The areas are: Teigsbjarg (a fallpipe
above the station building), Axará
(an in-flow tunnel), Glúmsstaðadal,
(an in-flow tunnel) and near the dams
at Kárahnjúkar, on the western side
of Jökla.
Situated by the dams is the largest
workers' village in connection
with this undertaking. There, a hous-
ing area, administration centre
and repair facilities of main- and sub-
contractors with housing for the
owners (surveyors), and an official
service area and housing for the
Sauðárdalur dam are planned.
Because of its size, a detail plan was
drawn up of this village at the
request of the planning authorities.
Other workers' villages are not
planned.
The detail plan covers an area of
800x2500 meteres, or 200 hectares.
It is at an altitude of 650 m further
inland than Fremri Kárahnjúkur, on
the west side of Jökulsá á Brú, and
about 2 km north of the junction of
Sauðá and Jökuisá, west of Lamba-
fellstögl.
The site is situated on a stone-cov-
ered hill, virtually devoid of vegetation
between the proposed Kárahnjúka-
and Sauðárdalur dam. The existing
road over Brúardalur crosses the
area. A new road, connected to this
existing one, will be built towards the
west of the village area to divert the
general traffic of tourists from the
area.
The area connects along built-up
roads, the Fljótsdalsheiði and
Kárahnjúkar roads, and a new bridge
on Jökulsá. The distance from the
town of Egilsstaðir is about 110 km.
One can also access the area up
from Jökuldalur along the Brúardala
road.
There is little rain in the area and
usually not much snow, with prevail-
ing winds from north-east and south-
west. This changes during the winter,
when snow storms temporarily block
the access roads. Weather condi-
tions in Fljótsheiði and Brúardalir can
be very contradictory. A better road
through Brúardalir can therefore give
better access during the winter. The
village is located near the existing
road through Brúardalir. This road
goes between the housing and the
activity areas and serves the contrac-
tors during the undertaking. A new
double road will be built west of the
village, joining them to the Sauðár-
dalur dam. After completion of the
project this road will go across the
dam, but during the construction
period it will be used by guests
and for material transport from mines
by Kárahnjúka dam and the Sauðár-
dalur dam. A new road across
Jökulsá is connected to the
Brúardala road and the workers' vil-
lage within the planned area.
On the planned area there is the pro-
posed workers' housing and activity
areas for the contractors. There is
also an area for services. These
areas are divided up and there is no
overlap between different uses or
activities. Within each area the peo-
ple concerned are virtually free to do
whatever they like. There are no con-
ditions as to the type of building or
their planning and design apart from
what is required by the building law
and regulations.
Drinking water comes from a bore-
hole in Laugavalladalur and sewage
is treated in septic tanks. Refuse is
sorted and removed by the refuse
company of Miðhérað.
A The housing area of Impregilo.
It is expected that 700 people will be
living in the largest workers' village,
covering some 10 hectares. The
houses in that area will mostly be of
the same type but of different sizes,
all of factory-made units and clad on
the outside with corrugated steel,
both roof and walls. The buildings
will all be single-storey, with flats for
both individuals and families. The
largest dormitories will house 20
people. The flats will be in single
family units, or in double or quadru-
ple units. A provision has been made
to house families with children.
Various services are offered for the
inhabitants: a restaurant, laundry,
social centre, shop, school, play-
ground and health centre. Garages
for ambulances and a helicopter port
are situated next to the health cen-
tre. This area will be fenced off.
B The housing area of
Landsvirkjun.
By the road junction of the Brúar-
dalur road and Kárahnjúkar road
across Jökulsá, the housing area of
Landsvirkjunar for 30 people is situ-
ated. In thís area will be an informa-
tion centre during construction
time. The site for a proposed „high-
land centre" has not yet been
chosen.
3 2 a vs
Vetrarmyndir / Vinter Photos
C Housing area for subcontractors.
Housing with a restaurant for 100
people with repair facilities. The pres-
ent subcontractor is Arnarfell ehf.
D Housing area for contractors at
Sauðárdalur dam.
Tenders have not yet been invited for
the dam at Sauðárdaur and the
intentions of the contractor are not
known.
E Offices of Impregilo.
The offices will be in buildings,
approximately 1000 m2 of a similar
type as the housing.
F Activity area of Impregilo.
The workshop buildings and storage
are situated furthest to the north
on a 3 hectare area which has been
levelled and built-up with gravel.
Drains are connected to tanks for oil
and sewage as required. Cut-
offs and refuse will be sorted into
containers. In this area will be
situated oil tanks for filling and distri-
bution in the area. There will also
be storage sheds made of steel with
6-14 m tall walls. The area will
be fenced. Outside the planned area,
but on the proposed reservoir area,
various activities will take place such
as the mining for gravel and sand
and the mixing of concrete.
G Shopping and services.
Opposite the housing area of
Landsvirkjun, by the crossroads,
there is proposed an area for shop-
ping and services. There the local
authority can offer sites to compa-
nies offering services to travellers.
On completion of the project, the
contractor is obliged to remove all
visible signs of the workers'village
and other undertakings. All services
shallower the 60 cm shall be
removed and the local authority
retains the right to issue further
orders on completion of the
contract. All disturbance to the
earth's surface shall be levelled and
returned to the topography which
existed prior to the undertaking. An
exception to this is the existing
Brúardalir road through the workers'
village. ■
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