Fólk Höfn The People’s Harbor BACKGROUND
A main part of the downtown harbor area in Reykjavik, Iceland is under construction while the new Concert and Congress Hall is being built. The port authority insists that further development in the area supports the goal of remaining a “living” harbor while attracting tourism and promoting activity.
Iceland
Currently, a major highway is acting as a boundary between the buildings and the harbor causing a disconnect between the surrounding residential and commercial areas, and facilitating a lack of use. The harbor is used mostly as a parking lot. One old abandon warehouse sits on the west side of the site, and Arnarhöl, a large historic hill, where the statue of Ingolfur Arnarson, the first Icelandic settler, resides to the south of the site. Reykjavik
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL COMMERICIAL
CONCEPT
Re-introduce the grid to build on the existing infrastructure of the city scape, and reframe the urban fabric of the harbor.
PROGRAM
The site is configured in a grid pattern to ease the access and increase connectivity from the surrounding residential, tourist, and harbor districts. Blocks are composed with “L,” “I,” and “U” patterns to maximize density and to support public-private spaces. While the grid provides smaller manageable environments, a network of pedestrian thorough-fares also provides connectivity and increases options for traveling route. Additionally, the Haborwalk acts as an area to promote pedestrian interaction, accessability, and recreation. Reykjavik, ICELAND |
Proposed Harbor Development Plan