Iceland Academy of Arts, Reykjavik Renovation and extension of an empty meat packing facility

• Main Author: Jónsson, Jóhann Einar
• Other Authors: Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu, School of Engineering, Arkkitehtuurin laitos, Siikala, Antti-Matti, Aalto-yliopisto, Aalto University
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Iceland; Reykjavik; arts academy; renovation; extension; urban regeneration; Islanti; taideakatemia; peruskorjaus; laajennus; kaupungin uudistaminen
• Online Access: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/98180

Icelandic Academy of the Arts (IAA) consists of five departments: the department of art education, department of design and architecture, department of fine arts, department of music and the department of theatre and dance. According to IAA agenda and curriculum all the departments shall maintain close cooperation. Currently IAA is operated on three different locations in Reykjavik. This limits the possibilities for collaboration and leads to higher running costs. In 2008 IAA managed to acquire a building site on Laugavegur, the main shopping street of downtown Reykjavik. A two stage architectural competition for new building was held but the economic crash in autumn 2008 put all the plans on hold. This project deals with how to fit the room program from the competition to an empty meat production factory from 1988. Renovation and extension of the building is required. Currently the fine arts department of IAA is located in the basement of the building but the rest is unused. However, as the building stands on a prominent site by the coastline on the fringe of the city centre area, after being renovated it could become the centrepiece of regeneration of the area. The tectonic rhythm of the existing building controls the possible interventions. In the design, precast roof elements are removed from the central space of the building and a cut is made in the basement roof slab to create connection between floors and let more daylight in. New building with concrete skeleton is erected to the west and north of the existing one and finally steel structure is put on top of the existing building and new building to create the 3rd floor. The material palette of the project seeks to strike a balance between the neighbouring residential buildings and close by industrial ones. Aluminium cladding of the existing structure is remade and the new structure is clad with sandblasted Reglit glass elements. Quantative information on the project:. Number of floors: Basement + 3 floors. Total floor area gross:19.846m2 (9.760m2 old ...