AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.03.2004, Blaðsíða 50

102 Reykjavík
Urban planning in Reykjavík -
Development of new housing
areas with a close interplay
between city and nature
Kirstin Fried & Carsten Trojan, Architects
The earliest urban development of Reykjavík took
place between the lake Tjörnin and the northern
coast of the peninsula. The city grew into the north
until the Second World War. Afterwards, the city
rapidly spread eastward. Today, the area of the
domestic airport forms the only remaining open
space near the city centre. Due to the growing pop-
ulation and ongoing migration to the city, 70,000
new residents are expected by 2027. Therefore, the
project mainly covers the development of new hous-
ing areas. Another potential of the city can be seen
in the extension of research and development
facilities.
Urban concept: Although the airport was imposed
on the city by the British military, it turned out to be
an important point in the city’s history, because it
brought the city out of isolation. In removing the air-
port from the city, the area will regain its former
significance, once existing connections can be
restored. The growth of the Vatnsmýri marsh will be
a symbol of the liberation of a previously sealed-off
natural area. The runways will be transformed into
open spaces and remain as historical landmarks
that stand for the emancipation of Reykjavík. The
starting point for the urban development towards
the south is the lake Tjörnin. The lake itself will be
integrated into a system of open spaces that
emphasizes the city’s location on a peninsula by
establishing a water-to-water connection. The prin-
ciple of locating public facilities (such as schools,
kindergartens or a new congress centre) towards
open spaces, as today represented by the Ráðhús
and the Norræna Hús, will be continued along a
new system of open spaces.
In the eastern part of the planning area, the city will
grow following the lines of topography. This area is
located between two scenic areas: the new land-
scape park and the Öskjuhlíð nature reserve. In
the northern part, the university will be extended and
Hugmynd að borgarþróun. / Concept of city development.
connected with the Landspítali hospital. A dense
urban system will follow that decreases in density
from housing blocks to single apartment houses.
This urban system will increasingly merge with the
landscape. Following the topography, the building
heights will decrease from 4-storey buildings at the
border of the Öskjuhlíð nature reserve to 2-storey
buildings towards the new landscape park. Dense
block structures will offer both services and
apartments, especially in the form of boarding hous-
es for international scientists. The adjacent housing
areas will form stripes, each of them connecting the
two scenic areas. Specific spaces, views, panora-
mas and the play with colours will stimulate the dia-