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Portfolio Selected works

Laufey Jakobsdóttir

Light Studies 1st semester, IAA course: Introduction to woodworkshop. instructor: Gulleik Lövskar. Light studies from a model, made in an introductory course to the IAA’S woodshop the first semester. The aim was to obtain fundamental knowledge and skills in carpentry. Students should be familiar with the materiality and different types of wood as well as applying introduced methods on independent work. Selection of photographs made in early January 2017.

Final project 6th semester, IAA course: Final Project. mentor: Hildigunnur Sverrisdóttir. instructors: Halldór Eiríksson, Hólmfríður Ósmann Jónsdóttir, Hrefna Björg Þorsteinsdóttir. external cencor: Cort Ross Dinesen, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture.

The subject of the final project is a refuge, a cairn in a journey of knowledge and self-reflection, set in the vicinity of lake Kleifarvatn, functioning as an education camp for schools during winter and a stopover for travellers during summer on their path that stretches along the continental drift ridge across the island from Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest to Axarfjörður in the northeast. My project is a play with proportions, a man made alien form in the landscape expected to emphasize the height dimensions of the land. It consists of three elements; the caretaker’s home, the service building on the sand and the continuous concrete road that connects them. The concrete road follows the land and turns into a pier. The elements together span a 4-meter difference in level. The program is mainly thought with the travellers’ need in mind. The school children come there in the winter to acquaint themselves with “him” as well as to learn about nature and play with the railing of the pier –- the human scale. The project as a whole is both a man made ruler in the landscape as well as a channel to the lake.

earthquake breathing

2004

sand

earth

(mynd)

Site plan

The site was chosen with the area’s hiking path in mind. The hot springs situated northwest of the main building were also an important factor. The springs manifest differently pending on the season and thus measure in a way the changes in water level. The traveller arrives from the southwest. While walking his mind wanders ahead - always looking for the nearest cairn. His first impression is the main building from afar, situated on the sand. He changes his course. Longing for long-awaited shelter he walks down the hilly road down to the lake.

floor plan 1:200 1.Reception 2.Home of careraker 3.Sleeping quarters 4.Living/dining room 5.Sauna

5. 4. 3.

D C

Section c-c 1:100 B

Section b-b 1:100

Section a-a 1:100

Elevation SE 1:200

Elevation NW 1:200

Elevation SW 1:100

Section D-D 1:200

Refuge 4th semester, IAA course: Context: architecture and nature //Structures III. instructor: Halldór Eiríksson, Kristín Þorleifsdóttir // Ævar Harðarson.

In the building technology course, Structures III, we were supposed to focus on a previous design project and develop it’s technical aspects as well as draw up structural details. I chose the project „Athvarf: Health Center“ from the design and research studio „Context: Architecture and Nature“ were the aim was to analyse the relationship between man, nature and the built environment. The project is situated by a lake in southwestern Iceland. I focused on the small huts situated by the hillside. The huts where thought of as a place of solitude where the guest can sleep, work or meditate. The sun-light streams in through each side. The aim was to maintain the architectonic elements of the designstage, and even strengthen them in the process. The materials used were wood and glass.

Site plan 1:1000

Section a-a 1:50

Elevation SW 1:100

1: 50

Elevation SE 1:100

Floor plan 1:50

Top view 1:100

Photo: Peter Drewarts

Final thesis 5th semester, IAA course: Final Thesis. instructor: Nanna Hlín Halldórsdóttir. external cencor: Sigrún Alba Sigurðardóttir.

“They took matters into their own hands:“ : who has right to a space in the heart of the city? In this thesis, the theory of power by the French philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-1984) was used to analyse the activity of different agents, in relation to how we shape our environment. In that context, Foucault’s theory of biopower was taken into consideration, and the connection between power and knowledge. With the help of the theories of Foucault’s collegue the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995) we demonstrated, how the environment we live in modulates our being and consequently the rules and regulations that determine that environment, using a contemporary example: “The Park of Hearts” (isl. Hjartagarðurinn). In light of the above, we analysed the policy of the City of Reykjavik on development in the first decade of the century, as well as the new policy being formed after the economic crash in 2008. Lastly, we considered the relationship between the citizens and The Park of Hearts with respect to the City’s planning policy and the theories of Foucault and Deleuze. In the summer of 2010, an ordinary family in downtown Reykjavik took the initiative to transform a derelict site in their neighbourhood into a public park. The plot had been neglected for some time because of delays in development. The project expanded quickly and other inhabitants of the area joined in. The group collaborated successfully with companies on-site which also participated. In 2012 the project received funding from the municipality. The same year the planning department introduced their development plans for the site. In the years before the economic crash in 2008, the City‘s policy on development was highly criticized. The policy was considered to favor investors with maximizing the floor area ratio of sites as primary objective of urban development. Again the City’s revised policy should encourage the participation of the inhabitants i.e with so-called “meanwhile projects“. Prima facie these projects resemble the “Park of Hearts“ project but the latter is unique for being initiated by the citizens themselves. “The Park of Hearts” group introduced to us a space uncommon in Reykjavik, namely a space where the grass-root art scene could florish. The group maintains that the park is not only an example of a new type of a public space but of a whole new community structure. It isn‘t until we have looked beyond the structure that we can sense the possibility of new systems of knowledge and thought. We commonly talk about Reykjavik’s inner city as “our” city center, but with reference to Foucault’s theories on power-relations and Deleuze’s Societies of control, we examined who, in reality, has the right to a space in the heart of the city.

Photo: Reykjavik Grapvine

Residencial House 1st semester, IAA / year 2021 course: Author and His Work. instructor: Pétur Ármannsson.

The house is situated in an imaginary setting in downtown residencial area of Reykjavik city. It is designed under the influence of the ideology of architect Adolf Loos and his writings on Raumplan. The plot has a 1,5 m difference in hight from street level to the garden. The floorplan of the house follows the landscape with the dining/kitchen area on street level and the living area level with the garden. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the private areas of the house; sleeping quarters on the top floor facing the street. The design of the house is also under the influence of icelandic building heretage - the turf house. The main materials used are wood, glass and turf. Selection of drawings made in December 2021.

Site plan 1:200

3. 4.

1. 5.

1.Entrance 2.Kitchen/Dining room 3. Living room 4.Library

Ground floor 1:200

Second floor 1:200

5. Study 6. WC 7– 8. Sleeping quarters

Section a-a 1:200

Section b-b 1:200

Elevation SV - Garden 1:200

Elevation SA 1:200

Living together 3rd semester, IAA course: Eco-Parameters. instructor: Andaldur Schram.

The aim of the course was to design a conceptual intervention in the city’s eco-system as well as to develop skills in the program Autodesk Maya. In the beginning we all chose an illustration by the German biologist, naturalist and artist Ernst Haeckel to draw and develop into a conceptual dwelling for man and an animal. In this project the student chose a shell to draw. The organic form of the shell was then analyzed and a detail selected to develop further focusing on the coexistence of man and bird. The birds live in the folds and creases of the shell while the man’s space is under the curved vaulted ceilings. The project is in a way inspired by The Japanese Metabolist Movement’s plug-in architecture. The capsules connect together and rise organically from an empty city plot into the air.

Urban inventions consultancy: Massimo Santanicchia. collaborators: Axel Kaaber, Birkir Ingibjartsson, Helga Björg Kjerulf, Hlynur Axelsson og Hrafnhildur Magnúsdóttir.

Betristofa Borgarinnar/ e. Urban Inventions was an independent group of six students of architecture giving critical input to the urban environment and culture of Reykjavík in the form of architectural installations. The group was founded in spring 2010 when its members received a grant from the municipality of Reykjavík City.

Austurstræti is one of the oldest and most important streets in Reykjavík. In July 2010 city officials decided to turn it into a pedestrian zone and asked us to build something for the occasion. The intervention was compiled by small color islands, intended to get people to actually walk on the driving lane by erasing the boundaries of the street and sidevwalk. The islands were in strong monotone colors in contrast with the street’s grayish atmosphere. (July 2010)

Óðinstorg is a public parking lot. The intervention aimed at creating a temporary garden with seating areas in relation to a small coffee shop that had recently opened there in the area. We took over the parking lot and also closed the small part of the street that runs past there. Materials used were borrowed grass, moss, and euro-pallets. Óðinstorg Park was open for one week. (June 2010)

Torg - is like Óðinstorg a parking lot next to a small coffee shop. The intervention was a rather distorted but direct statement of the site. The intervention consisted of boxy forms spread around the parking lot in what seemed to be a random manner. However, when looking at it from one particular spot, marked on the sidewalk, green painted sides of the boxes morphed together to form the word TORG (square). (July 2010)

Ægisíða (2013). Structures are situated by a popular outdoor recreation area by Reykjavík’s seaside. The aim was to design resting places for residents and other guests. The structures became three altogether spread along the shore.

Abandoned Houses Summer 2013/14 , Rannís (The Icelandic Student Innovation Fund) project: Abandoned houses in rural aerias („Eyðibýli á Íslandi“). instructors: Sigbjörn Kjartansson, arkitect FAÍ and Gísli Sverrir Árnason, cultural consultant. collaborators: Conducted by 21 students over the period of 4 years.

Deserted Homesteads and Rural Dwellings - was an independent research project that was started in 2011. The purpose of the research was to map and document abandoned residential houses in the countryside of rural Iceland. These houses are slowly disappearing so the research was initiated to document them before it was too late. The objective of the research was to get a good overview of these buildings, enabling others to assess their cultural importance and place in Iceland’s building heritage. The research endorses the preservation and revitalization of certain houses and helps raise awareness of their importance. Students partaking in the research came from different academic fields; mostly from the field of architecture but also archaeology and folkloristic studies. Each house is inspected by a pair of researchers. One photographs the building by a certain method whilst the other fills out a standardized form. Notes for each house include its surroundings, form, style, and technical condition. Afterwards more general information about the houses is collected, for example, the year of construction, year of desertion, and history. Consequently, there is quite a lot of information for each house and the research provides a valuable database. To date over 700 houses from all corners of the country have been documented. As a part of the research, seven books have been published for each part of the country. The books show the findings of the research and each documented house is covered by a short description along with pictures. This has helped extend the reach of the project which has gotten a lot of attention from the general population and the local media. That has at the same time raised awareness of this part of the building heritage and hopefully will result in some of these houses being revitalized.

The research has been supported by: RANNÍS (The Icelandic Student Innovation Fund), The National Architectural Heritage Board, National Museum of Iceland, Iceland Academy of the Arts (IAA), University of Iceland (UI) and municipalities around Iceland.

Shift Listastofan (Art Space) as part of Design March 2016. Collaborator: Edda Mac (BFA Parsons). The project is a conversation between architecture and art. It explores lines, angles, and surfaces in the environment. The pieces are remakes of photographs taken during the last decade. By making sculptures from the lines and forms of the photographs they try to find what the places have in common and what makes each unique. New and atypical spaces are formed by shifts and movements. Thus new connections are made, making a landscape that is at the same time everywhere and nowhere.

Laufey Jakobsdóttir laufeyjak@gmail.com +354 848 9257