Architecture Awards 2017

16 BUILD - Architecture Awards 2017 , ounded in 1967, Arkitektastofan OG is one of the oldest of its kind in Iceland, but still young and progressive thanks to its staff, management and professional approach. The main goals of the firm, are to contribute to better architecture and better environment, and to provide the customers with the best professional consulting available. Arkitektastofan OG possesses solid experience from a wide range of projects, from city planning and all kinds of buildings to interior and furniture design. The buildings include all kinds of residential housing, schools, sport facili- ties, hospitals, churches, commercial and industrial buildings, and power plants. In addition to design of new structures, the company also takes care of renewals and extensions of older buildings. The owners, Gardar Gudnason and Sigurdur Gustafsson, talk us through one of the firm‘s recent projects, which emphasises the company’s dedication to client service and quality. “One of our latest project is Klettaskoli, an elementary school for disabled children in Reykjavik. The project is a new building, including an auditori- um, sports and swimming facilities and offices, along with a total moderniza- tion of an existing building, greatly improving the support to the students. “The project has been very demanding in many ways. It has an extensive program of functions and a very complex situation, with a narrow space between the existing building and the established residential neighbour- hood. The solution was to form the project more like a landscape than a building, reshaping the characteristic elements previously on the site. The sports facilities are pulled back, under a plain of grass, and the auditorium becomes a rock, which also is an association to the school ‘s name, where ‘Kletta’ means rock.” Ultimately, with its wide range of experience, from large scale projects such as power plants to furniture and small design objects, Arkitektastofan OG are able to offer more comprehensive services than most other companies. Arkitektastofan OG ehf Architectural Design Firm of the Year 2017 - Iceland Arkitektastofan OG is a comprehensive architectural firm, based in Reykjavik and owned by Gardar Gudnason and Sigurdur Gustafsson. We profile this dedicated company and explore the services it offers. F Budarhals Power Station