The square which occupies the space in front of Harpa, the newly-opened concert and conference centre in Reykjavík, has won a prize at the Swedish architecture conference Arkitekturmässan (in Swedish), which was held for the first time this year between 24th and 26th October. The organisers of the event intend to carve out a niche and make it the largest annual Nordic event for architects, landscape architects and urban planners.

The square by Harpa picked up the prize for Best Nordic Public Space. Landscape architect Þráinn Hauksson at the firm Landslag received the prize on behalf of the company’s design team, who developed the square in co-operation with architecture firm Batteríð. Henning Larsen Architects and artist Ólafur Elíasson also collaborated on the project.

According to Landslag “the design of the square was conceived with a view to the history of the area as an unspoilt shore, where the stream [the one which currently runs under the street Lækjargata] ran to the sea in the harbour area. Reflective ponds create an island feeling far removed from the surrounding busy streets. The bridges over the ponds are a reminder of the jetties which once jutted into the sea here. The square is divided into three areas: an arrival square, a multi-purpose square and a waiting area in a nook formed by the building facing the sun and providing shelter.”

Source: Vísir
Image: Landslag

Labels: Architecture, Harpa