Drawing inspiration from the volcanic basalt stone, the horizontal layers of rock, and the atmosphere of the caves and clefts of the Icelandic landscape, C.F. Møller and Arkthing have won a competition to design Landsbankinn’s newest bank in Reykjavik.
The bank’s façade is composed of primarily two materials: glass and basalt. These two elements, along with other components common in Icelandic nature, can also be found inside the building. In the foyer, a skylight opening is formed in basalt stone. In the atria, the horizontal bands of the terraces are expressed in in-situ concrete, meant to reference Icelandic rock formations.
Rendering courtesy Beauty and the Bit.
The office spaces are designed to be open and flexible and are placed into four complex houses. The different houses come together to function as one building that is oriented with views to the sea, Harpa Concert Hall, and Arnarhóll Park. The atria are inside the two tallest houses to ensure daylight reaches deep into the structure. The two lowest houses provide glazing and connections to external terraces and gardens.
Rendering courtesy Beauty and the Bit.
Public functions are located on the ground floor and along the façade, which activates a new pedestrian street leading to Harpa Concert Hall. An internal, sheltered public passage links the new facilities and creates a shortcut for the city.
Construction is planned to begin in early 2019.
Rendering courtesy Beauty and the Bit.
C.F. Møller Architects / Arkthing.
Related Stories
| Feb 1, 2012
ULI and Greenprint Foundation create ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance
Member-to-member information exchange measures energy use, carbon footprint of commercial portfolios.
| Jan 31, 2012
Chapman Construction/Design: ‘Sustainability is part of everything we do’
Chapman Construction/Design builds a working culture around sustainability—for its clients, and for its employees.
| Jan 26, 2012
Three dead, 16 missing in Rio buildings collapse
The buildings, one 20 floors high, collapsed on Wednesday night in a cloud of dust and smoke just one block away from the city's historic Municipal Theater.
| Jan 26, 2012
Summit Design+Build completes law office in Chicago
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen's new office suite features private offices, open office area, conference rooms, reception area, exposed wood beams and columns, and exposed brick.
| Jan 17, 2012
SOM Chicago wins competition to design China's Suzhou Center
The 75-level building is designed to accommodate a complex mixed-use program including office, service apartments, hotel and retail on a 37,000 sm site.
| Jan 15, 2012
Hollister Construction Services oversees interior office fit-out for Harding Loevner
The work includes constructing open space areas, new conference, trading and training rooms, along with multiple kitchenettes.
| Jan 15, 2012
Smith Consulting Architects designs Flower Hill Promenade expansion in Del Mar, Calif.
The $22 million expansion includes a 75,000-square-foot, two-story retail/office building and a 397-car parking structure, along with parking and circulation improvements and new landscaping throughout.
| Jan 12, 2012
CSHQA receives AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Merit Award for Idaho State Capitol restoration
After a century of service, use, and countless modifications which eroded the historical character of the building and grounds, the restoration brought the 200,000-sf building back to its former grandeur by restoring historical elements, preserving existing materials, and rehabilitating spaces for contemporary uses.
| Jan 4, 2012
New LEED Silver complex provides space for education and research
The academic-style facility supports education/training and research functions, and contains classrooms, auditoriums, laboratories, administrative offices and library facilities, as well as spaces for operating highly sophisticated training equipment.
| Jan 3, 2012
VDK Architects merges with Harley Ellis Devereaux
Harley Ellis Devereaux will relocate the employees in its current Berkeley, Calif., office to the new Oakland office location effective January 3, 2012.