In 1994, The peninsula town of Seltjarnarnes, Iceland, opened a urban design competition for the remainder of its available land. Most of this land is a bird sanctuary with recently discovered archeological remnants in a large grass field. Below is a map of the town next to an infrared aerial photo of much of the competition site (part of the competition materials) © copyright
The town had initiated the construction of a small harbor at its southern tip. This became an essential portion of the design proposal. I suggested the design be modified to become a hub of commercial activities with a square for boats to be launched off of, also proposing a clubhouse at the tip of the break way pier.
A central idea was to separate the bird sanctuary from the town with a small scaled road. It would provide an edge to the existing town while at the same time provide access to the green areas during times when wild birds were not hatching. A network of pedestrian paths was proposed through the sanctuary to connect into the existing urban fabric. This would ease the access of city residents to the open areas.
Views of reconstructed archeological rings in the grass fields and pedestrian paths. The image on the right shows how the proposed road would help separate a historical building from the town as a free standing museum.
Master plan of the proposed urban infill. An critical essay of existing planning methods was submitted with this proposal. The proposed dense urban infill is an antithesis to the present scattered urban planning practices and would be more suitable for Icelandic conditions (see also Alftanes 1991). It deals with the waste of land issue and the endless wind problems associated with present planning methods. It would make good use of the last patch of land available to the town. It is made as a series of connected buildings enclosing and sheltering common gardens. Walkways weave in and out this new urban typology.
Close up of the urban fill showing the proposed dense network of small roads, walkways, gardens and buildings. The buildings enclose courts that provide shelter from the winds so prevalent a problem in most of Iceland.
Details of the urban infill, showing possible ground floor plan layouts. Building sections show the connected basements, all utilized for parking. One aim of the project was to eliminate the common parking garage and use the resulting land space for dense vegetation, walking/bicycling paths and shared gardens.
An elevation showing how each building would be built in its own style according to its builder/owner. Note the bridge-building where a road goes through the building.
View under a bridge building, looking into the shared gardens.
Section explaining the formation of a "laut" a bowl-like shelter within the urban fabric. See also Alftanes 1991.
North west portion of the site. An existing lighthouse terminates the new road. The proposal called for a natural science institution embedded into the grass fields. This institution, then being discussed for a different site, would have excellent access to the shore line and bird life, which ideally would become part of its operation.
All design work and drawings are made by Olafur Thordarson in 1994
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Olafur Thordarson / Dingaling Studio, Inc. 1998-2001. All rights
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