Citizens of Hafnarfjördur, a suburb of Reykjavík, are collecting signatures from their fellow townsmen to object to a planned construction of two nine-story buildings to house shops, offices and apartments, which they say will overshadow nearby houses.
“If it happens it will be an atrocity,” Hafnarfjördur resident Valur Ásmundsson told Morgunbladid explaining the high-rises would not only cast a shadow on the district near Strandgata by Fjördur shopping center, but also prevent sunlight from reaching the town center, especially in spring when the sun is low on the horizon.
Ásmundsson said he is also concerned about strong gusts of wind being created between the two towers, blowing directly into the town center. “Especially when the wind is blowing from the west or southwest, creating a storm in Strandgata, which has always been calm.”
Sigrún Thorgrímsdóttir, managing director of Hanza Group which is responsible for the high-rises, said the buildings will not cast any more shadow than the buildings which used to stand by Fjördur on Strandgata.
“We originally planned to construct a 12-story building, but following a study on shadow it was reduced to nine. Then the shadow cast will be within the limits of what it used to be,” Thorgrímsdóttir told Morgunbladid.
Thorgrímsdóttir also said it is not necessary to worry about gusts of wind being created by the towers because they were designed especially to prevent such conditions. “The gap does not go all the way to the ground, only down to the third floor, so the gusts are created higher up.”
Thorgrímsdóttir claimed the objections Hafnarfjördur residents have against the planned high-rises are based on lack of knowledge. A meeting aimed at informing residents about the buildings will be held tomorrow and they have until August 22 to submit objections.
