ROCKING ÁSBRÚ ÁSBRÚ, REYKJANESBÆR
Gustoweg 45 h 3029 AR Rotterdam tel: 0031 (0)10 27 33 028
Mathenesserdijk 414C 3026 GV Rotterdam tel: 0031 (0)10 254 0558
www.felixx.nl felixx@felixx.nl
www.jvantspijker.com info@jvantspijker.com
DISCLAIMER: This publication has been prepared by Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners. Reproduction and public presentation only after official permission. All materials Copyright Š Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners, Jvantspijker Urbanism Architecture Research, Rotterdam The Netherlands, 2015
ROCKING ÁSBRÚ ÁSBRÚ, REYKJANESBÆR
Asbru is a place with a particular vibrant character. However, the only prospect is on the very long term: the redevelopment of the area into a new airport city. So what about the meantime? How can we apply the present dynamics to improve the current conditions? That’s what we want to explore.
* This document is a concise graphical overview. More information and detailed project documentation on request.
FORMER NATO-CAMPUS ﾃ《brﾃｺ is a part of the former U.S. Naval Air Station Keflavik. In 2006, the U.S. forces were evacuated.
CURRENTLY When navies left, ﾃ《brﾃｺ was re-invented as a community of entrepreneurs, students and business.
It attracts a mixed group of people. Students of all ages, with different family conditions. Adults, teenagers and kids. All together they create a vibrant atmosphere, resulting in a variety of functions and activities.
MASTERPLAN However, the only prospect of the area is on the very long term: ﾃ《brﾃｺ Enterprise Park. A full-grown airport city with a university, industrial and residential developments.
QUESTION But what happens inbetween? How to support, and strengthen the current dynamics?
2016
2020
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? 2030
2040
2050
THEMES We call 4 key ambitions of the masterplan, and connect them to the current situation. We develop a set of interventions for each of them, able to be developed on the short term, without large investments.
PUBLIC SPACE
GREEN
WATER
2016
2020
N
PROGRAM AND TYPOLOGIES
2030
2040
2050
FOUR THEMES: TOOLBOX Based on the specific conditions of the area, we break down the 4 themes into small and low cost interventions. The different parts of the toolbox are independent, can be developed separatly or phased.
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Public space
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1-3 Halló!
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Water
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Program & typologies
Green
Halló!
Lichte woninguitbouw op het zuiden
Woninguitbouw, dakterrassen, erkers richting courtyard
Doorzon Studentenlofts met gallerijontsluiting
Community center met thermale baden
Halló!
Aanhangen van balkons
Portiekentrees articuleren
Collectieve ruimten in plint openen
Eenvoudige, vrachtwagengrote prefab-elementenbouw
THREE NEIGHBORHOODS The project area offers 3 charactestic zones. Each zone allows for a different focus: eighter on the improvement of private, community or public space. Each focus relates to the scale and impact of the applied interventions, creating three neighborhoods with a different identity: Garden Paradise, Courtyard Mosaique and Green Park.
Garden e Paradis
Skatepark
with
Green Park
Co ur Mo tyard saiq ue
Hostel h hot tubs
School
1. PUBLIC SPACE The public space gets activated. The relation with the buildings is strengthened by connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, and marking specific functions and entrances. The green realm is diversified by distinguishing public from more private spaces.
Activate public space Network of paths
Collection of recreational places Halló!
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Connect buildings Terraces
Marking entrances
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Public - private space Hedges
Different types of vegetation
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Parking - currently dominating the overall character of the area - is integrated. The qualities of the public realm are tuned with the diverse group of users: playgrounds for kids, sport fields for teenagers and adults. The overall quality of the outdoor space is improved, to protect people from the inclement Icelandic weather. And to make sure that the outdoor space will be used after all.
Integrate parking Street parking
Double-use, painting parking lots Hall贸!
Add facilities & functions Playgrounds
Sports fields
1-3
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Improve outdoor quality Luminate paths and places
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Protect against the wind
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2. WATER The watermanagement of the area is improved. Therefore, measures are transformed into meaningfull spatial interventions. Wadi’s slow down the rainwater run off in green areas. Water squares can temporarily retain surface water in paved zones. Meanwhile, reedlands improve the overall water quality, and hot tubs add to the general experience of water in the area.
Improve water management Wadi
Water purification
Water-permeable path
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Strenghten use and experience Hot tubs
Water square
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3. GREEN New vegetation is added, trees, shrubs, flowers and hedges are planted. This strenghtens the ecological conditions within the neigborhood and diversifies the public realm. Moreover, adding vegetation blocks the wind, transforming paths and seating areas into pleasant places to be. But even these plants need protection against the wind to grow. We take care of that too.
Add vegetation Trees
Flowers
Protect against wind Shrubs
Hedges
Windscreens
Topography
4. PROGRAM & TYPOLOGIES The identification of three neighborhoods within ﾃ《brﾃｺ is largely due the difference in building typologies. Each block can be individually upgraded with prefabricated additions and adjustments.
Typology
House extension to the south
te woninguitbouw op het zuiden
Loft appartments + drywalks
orzon Studentenlofts met gallerijontsluiting
Entrance + plinth Marking the entrance
House extension, roof terraces, bay windows
Woninguitbouw, dakterrassen, erkers richting courtyard
Balconies
Aanhangen van balkons
Collective space to activate the plinth
Hall贸!
Portiekentrees articuleren
Collectieve ruimten in plint openen
An opportunity for a community program is found in the centrally located Green Park. This location, located beautifully on the slope of the hillside with views towards the mountains and the sea, is ideal for hospitality program in the form of a (backpacker) hostel, and/or a natural hotspring with supporting accomodation.
Simple prefabricated construction elements
Eenvoudige, vrachtwagengrote prefab-elementenbouw
Community center with thermal pools
Community center met thermale baden
IDENTITY Besides improving the overall qualities of the area, the identity of Asbru should be built up gradually. Existing societal functions such as the school
VIEWP
are reinforced. New facilities such as a neighborhood centre are added.
LANDMARKS
F
SEA
.
POINT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRE
FACILITIES
...?
The present environmental qualities are applied as unique selling points by creating viewpoints and landmarks. Or combining these two: every path in the park leads to a viewpoint with a monumental swing. Rocking between mountains and the sea: ﾃ《brﾃｺ connects the two fundamental values of the Icelandic life.
ROCKING ﾃ《brﾃｺ
GARDEN PARADISE Garden Paradise focusses on the improvement of private spaces. This area offers an intimate environment of villas with gardens.
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Network of paths
Hedges
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Hedges
Luminate paths
Halló! Halló!
Protect against wind
Water-permeable path
Hedges
Trees
House extension to the south
Lichte woninguitbouw op het zuiden
Simple prefabricated construction elements
Eenvoudige, vrachtwagengrote prefab-elementenbouw
GREEN PARK The Green Park focusses on the improvement of public spaces. The area offers a diverse realm for inhabitants & students. A network of paths activates the park, connecting sport facilities & playgrounds.
Halló!
Halló!
Luminate paths
Halló!
Terraces
Double-use parking lots Halló!
1-3
Halló!
Sports fields
Recreational places
Water-permeable path
Water purification
Topography
Shrubs
Halló!
Protect against the wind
Xxx
Collectieve ruimten in plint openen
Loft appartments + drywalks Doorzon Studentenlofts met gallerijontsluiting
Aanhangen van balkons
Balconies
Community center with thermal pools
Community center met thermale baden
Simple prefabricated construction elements
Eenvoudige, vrachtwagengrote prefab-elementenbouw
COURTYARD MOSAIQUE The courtyard-mosaique focusses on the determination of community spaces. The semi-public space between the existing buildings is transformed into courtyards, offering playgrounds and private terraces.
Hall贸!
Hall贸!
Double-use, painting parking lots
Luminate paths
Hall贸!
Hall贸!
Different types of vegetation
Water square
Hall贸!
Water-permeable path
Shrubs
Flowers
House extension, roof terraces, bay windows Woninguitbouw, dakterrassen, erkers richting courtyard
Portiekentrees articuleren
Marking the entrance
Simple prefabricated construction elements
Eenvoudige, vrachtwagengrote prefab-elementenbouw
FELIXX LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS Felixx is a Rotterdam based office for proactive landscape architecture, established to advice on the new environmental challenges. The office operates within the fields of environmental design and spatial studies. Landscapes emerged from the transformation of nature areas into human living environments. As integrated spatial systems, they connect and organize all aspects to enable human life. Constantly evolving, adapting to the ever changing contemporary life forms. Actually, we design the space where society is touching ground. Landscape architecture is both a spatial and societal instrument. Therefore Felixx enjoys being a platform to identify new spatial challenges, by exploring landscape architecture as a pragmatic utopian practice. Engineering landscapes as smart spatial systems, while envisioning them as the paradisiacal environments we want to live in. By hitting this promising overlap between pragmatism and idealism, we want to improve the world we are living in and realize happy environments. Looking for opportunities to do so is Felixx’s everyday quest.
Gustoweg 45 h 3029 AR Rotterdam tel: 0031 (0)10 27 33 028 www.felixx.nl felixx@felixx.nl