Billionaire father and son, Björgólfur Gudmundsson and Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, are planning to construct a shopping mall in downtown Reykjavík from Laugavegur to Skúlagata in harmony with the current street image.
The project would be carried through by Gudmundsson’s and Björgólfsson’s holding company Samson Properties; its representatives will introduce the plans in greater detail at a meeting today, Fréttabladid reports.
Many of the buildings in that area are being preserved and the entrepreneurs do not want to change that, but would probably have to demolish two buildings on Laugavegur to create room for the entrance to the new shopping mall.
The mall would facilitate different shops and service outlets as is common in city centers overseas, like the PK building in Stockholm.
The mall’s height would be similar to the buildings surrounding it. According to the current urban planning, an apartment complex will be constructed on Skúlagata with up to 17 floors.
Among those who will speak at today’s meeting are Jan Gehl, an architect and urban planning professor, Kim Nielsen, the primary owner of 3xN architects in Denmark, and Björn Gunnlaugsson of the real estate development company Fasteignaþróun.
Gudmundsson and Björgólfsson have already purchased a large part of the buildings located between Laugavegur, Hverfisgata, Barónsstígur and Vitastígur through Samson Properties.
