Mayor of Reykjavík Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson submitted a proposal to the City Council this week regarding an architecture competition for the new look of Laekjartorg square in downtown Reykjavík.
“This area is the heart of the city and we believe this is the best way to receive many different suggestions on how it could look in the future,” Vilhjálmsson told Morgunbladid.
Five architect firms have received offers to join the competition but anyone who is interested can submit ideas.
The area to be reconstructed includes not only Laekjartorg square but also the nearby streets. The mayor said architects should put a special emphasis on the corner of Austurstraeti and Laekjargata where two timber houses were destroyed this April in a fire.
“I have made my opinion clear that we should hold onto the historical street image, which has been there for more than 150 years, as much as we can.” Vilhjálmsson said.
The mayor said it is important to organize the area as a whole, but the corner of Austurstraeti and Laekjargata should not be out of context with the rest of the area.
