Drawing Board
Ánanaust Observation Deck ReykjavÍk, Iceland After severe storms caused serious damages to the road and pathways in the Ánanaust and Eiðssgranði area, the city of Reykjavík decided that the existing sea defense wall was not sufficient, and a reinforcement project was needed. The reinforcement project opened the opportunity to redesign the existing path and cycle ways that run near the sea wall, and as part of it, new observation decks were developed. The observation deck in Ánanaust is part of a larger infrastructure project and opens to unique views towards the Faxafloa bay. On clear days it is possible to see all the way to the town of Akranes, and the Snæfellsjokul glacier. This deck will also be an excellent spot to experience the arctic summer “midnight sun”. As for darkness, this observation deck has a conflicting situation between the intrinsic darkness of the seafront, and the illumination from the nearby road. There were plans to accent the observation deck element from one of the nearest light poles. But once lighting designers at Verkís became involved, the approache changed and the target was not just to illuminate the site, but to find a lighting solution that could highlight the element’s design, while creating an inviting atmosphere and preserving as much as possible the quality of darkness. The lighting situation also needs to provide enough safety and visual comfort. The lighting scheme aims to create an atmosphere that invites people to access the site, with a smooth transition between the street lighting and the natural darkness of the sea front. Lighting was also designed to provide a distinctive character, making it a reference point for the overall sea wall reinforcement project. www.verkis.com
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