In Vík í Mýrdal there are some of Iceland’s most important natural gems and the town is an important link on the ring road. A large tourist industry has been built up there in recent years, and therefore there is a need for development in the area, both for residents and visitors.
The aim of the proposal is to increase the quality of the residential area with improved access to services, shops and sheltered outdoor areas, along with good connections to the existing settlement, while sensitive to the surrounding untouched nature. The strategy of the planning creates a vibrant community that encourages people to stay longer and settle permanently.
It is important to integrate the tourist flow with the residents and create both outdoor and indoor areas, that are bustling with life and that everyone can benefit from. In the southern part of the area, it’s proposed a mixed development of shops, services and tourist accommodation, along with apartments for short and long-term rent. This area is well connected to the highway and attracts people who use the new services and green outdoor areas. This area is built up of one to three-story buildings that break up wind from the east and noise from the highway, thus creating a sheltered, quiet area towards the new center.
Beyond the service area, residential neighborhoods provide different housing typologies, with smaller townhouses, semi-detached houses and larger detached houses. The small-scale settlement pattern echoes the town’s existing settlement pattern and provides an opportunity for development in selected locations with green areas that then merge with the untouched nature. The green areas are located so that they enjoy sun while sheltering from the prevailing wind direction, and offer several types of recreation for residents and visitors, such as playgrounds, sports areas, and vegetable gardens. This encourages togetherness between residents and supports a healthy lifestyle and improved health.
With the development of public parks between residential areas, opportunities are created during construction to build up the neighborhoods gradually, but with a mixed settlement at each step from west to east. In this way, diverse services and residential areas can beautifully intertwine and create a vibrant and diverse community.
Category:Urban Planning/Landscape ArchitectureLocation:IcelandArchitect: Tiago Sá, PortugalLead Architects:Tiago Sá, Hulda JónsdóttirDesign Team: Stefany Trojan, Dagný TómasdóttirPhotographer: Courtesy of the Architects
