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The_Icelandic_Architect


“I AM NOT LIGHT, I am heavy”


Högna Sigurðardóttir (6 July 1929 - 10 February 2017) was a leading Icelandic architect. She was the first woman to design a house in Iceland. She spent most of her professional career in France.


Högna is one of my biggest idols in architecture, not only because of her great architecture...but also for who she was and still is in minds of people, as a strong powerful woman that went for her dreams. A true pioneer of her time. “I AM NOT LIGHT, I am heavy” were here illuminating words.


THIS HOUSE on Bakkaflöt Hafsteinshús, or the house of Hafsteinn, (1965–68), which has been praised as one of the hundred most remarkable buildings of the twentieth century in World Architecture: a Critical Mosaic, is a fine example of Högna’s approach, where landscape, form, and space are merged into a whole, with reference to ancient Icelandic building heritage as well as to contemporary use of concrete and other Brutalist features of modernism.


Bakkaflöt is thrust into a manmade grass-covered hill with only the edge of its flat roof visible.


The interior layout revolves around a central living room with a massive fireplace beneath a skylight, which provides the seemingly closed building with generous light inside.





Beautiful how Högna organically molds the space both horizontally and vertically. From the sleeping rooms, reading nooks, and other intimate spaces sprout from the center with floor-to-ceiling gliding doors. The levels of the floors and ceilings are deliberately raised or lowered to define smaller rooms within the open space.


Materials are restricted to untreated raw concrete, elegantly crafted hardwood, and a bit of leather, with most of the furniture (sofas, benches, tables, bathtubs, and even the beds) cast in concrete, making them part of a coherent whole with the visible main structure of the house.

The sleeping rooms are relatively small as where were six children in the family when Högna designed the house but the have sliding walls that allows the space to open up and to be used for other means. Great idea and concept still today.



It is obvious that the she was inspired by the look of a traditional Icelandic turf house

Inspired by the look of a traditional Icelandic turf house


Högna's designs were and are still to this day seen as very modern and bold.


All the pictures are property of islanders.is




  • Architects: Unit Arkitektur AB

  • Location: Sweden

  • Lead Architects: Principals Mikael Frej & Klas Moberg

  • Area: 200.0 m2

  • Project Year: 2017

  • Photographs: Per Naden / Unit Arkitektur

  • Ventilation: VVS-miljö Göteborg

  • Statics: KIB Uddevalla






INTERIOR

Love the material use... simple and clean the Scandinavian style. The wood always gives a nice warm look. I would have used less red toned woo... more brownish like or white polish it a little... but still... its nice and clean and great contrast with the black steel table leg, chairs and TOM DIXON lights.

Beautiful view and great open space. Love the floor to sealing windows... reminds me of the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe


Plan and location



Facades


Section 1:50

Construction details



More about the project on the architects website PLASTIKHUS II




A CLASSIC ONE

This is without a doubt one of my favourite buildings in Copenhagen,

I go there sometimes to work it is so peaceful and quiet... I guess I enjoy it the most because of the beautiful view from any corner.

I spent my day today working in The Black Diamond in Copenhagen, The Royal Library so it is appropriate to share with you some of my pictures.

On my Instagram (@The_Icelandic_Architect) I had a Life tour today. I do definitely recommend visiting it if you have a chance.


There is something about this building... see for your selves ;)


Clad in black granite, the extension to the Royal Library is known as the ‘Black Diamond’ – with its clean cut lines and glittering polished surfaces, the library is one of Copenhagen’s architectural gems.

Photo By @


Size/ 21,000 m² new build/ 7,000 m² conversion Cost/ € 49 million excl. VAT Competition/ 1993, 1st prize in european competition Status/ Completed in 1999 Client/ Danish Ministry of Culture Engineers/ Moe & Brødsgaard A/S Interior design/ shldesign Awards/ 1999, The Timber Industry Information Council Award/ 2000, The Architecture Prize of the Municipality of Copenhagen/ 2000, Nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award/ 2001, The Nykredit A

rchitecture Prize/ 2003, Du Pont Benedictus Award.

The central space, affords panoramic views over the waterfront, and also serves as a significant source of daylight which is dispersed throughout the building.


I very much enjoy how the structural details are made as an aesthetic pease, this was and still is a lot done in architecture and I think it is not always a success but here for sure is very well done.


This building is a classic...

The Royal Library has become an icon for Copenhagen – a prominent, accessible and public focal point for the life in the city. The aim of the design was to create an informal meeting place for citizens in Copenhagen, students, tourists and restaurant guests.

Situated in the historic heart of Copenhagen, the extension marks a radical shift from traditional library structure and accommodates a range of cultural facilities.




There is nothing else to say but great architecture. I have actually been researching to see if I find someone disagreeing with me and I have not found any so far... so if you have an opinion please leave a comment below. I would LOVE to hear it.




HJARK - Hulda Jóns Arkitektúr ehf - Urriðaholtsstræti 26, 210 Garðabær, Ísland                  hjark@hjark.is                 00354 8650649

@2018 All right reserved to Huldajons Architecture ehf, 

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