Fyrri reynsla

Hafnartorg

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Mixed use complex close the Reykjavík harbour

Client : Reginn and ÞG Verk (Reykjavík Development)

Architect : PK / PKdM arkitektar

Work for : PK / PKdM arkitektar - Concept, project management, architecture design and construction follow up 

Size : 28.000 m²

Project year : 2018 (completion)

The harbour area in Reykjavík, Iceland, is now the site of one of the largest construction projects undertaken in the city centre to this day.  The project connects the old city centre to the harbour and the culture-, and music house “Harpa“.

Hafnartorg consists of seven buildings creating a public space that stimulates movement of people through the area. Ground floor spaces are dedicated to retail, café’s and restaurants, whereas upper floors are reserved for apartments and office spaces. It is a multifunctional space that merges work, family life and recreation alongside supporting existing activity in the vibrant and colourful city centre.​

Alvotech / Alvogen

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Pharmaceutical company offices and production plant

Client : Alvotech

Architect : PK / PKdM arkitektar

Work for : PK / PKdM arkitektar - Concept, project management, architecture design and construction follow up 

Size : 11.150 m²

Project year : 2017 (completion)

The aim of the design was to develop a creative, unconventional working environment with the right balance between the companies offices and the aseptic requirements of the pharmaceutical industry in the production and research areas, where the building should reflect the dynamics of the diverse groups of professionals interacting within its walls.

On the inside, the predominant color is white, highlighting the pharmaceutical qualities of cleanliness. The exterior is limited to three main materials: concrete, aluminium and glass.

Höfðatorg

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Mixed use complex with 6 buildings around central plaza.

Client : Höfðatorg / Eykt 

Architect : PK / PKdM arkitektar

Work for : Höfðatorg hf., PK / PKdM arkitektar - Architecture design, masterplanning design and marketing management, landscape design and construction follow up

Size : 156.026 m²

Project year : 2022  (estimated completion)

The Höfðatorg project is a mixed-use complex, located close to the city centre of Reykjavik. The compound consists of six buildings on top of a three level underground parking. 

Ground-level spaces are for various services, shopping and socialising in connection to the urban landscape. Upper floors are dedicated to office spaces, hotels and apartments. A two to three level parking facility under the whole Höfðatorg provides ample parking and easy access to all areas. Storage and service facilities are mostly underground.

The architectural composition is a base of seven stories from which rise two higher structures of 12 and 16 stories, as well as the landmark tower of 19 stories total around 75.000 m² above ground level. With the Höfðatorg plaza facing the southern sun, protected from the cold northern winds by the surrounding buildings and glass pavilions, the forms of the buildings create a protected usable public space at its centre. With a plot size of 28.000 m² the building constructions occupy only 40% of the ground area, leaving an open unbuilt area of 16.000 m².

Norðurbakki 7-9

Location : Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Project : Residential building with 74 apartments

Client : VHE

Architect : PK arkitektar + Teiknistofan Storð 

Work for : PK arkitektar - Project management, architecture design and landscape design            

Size : 11.040 m²

Project year : 2016 (completion)

The Norðurbakki project is located at the seafront close to the old harbour of Hafnarfjörður, a small town in close proximity to Reykjavik. The project consists of two 4 storey high apartment building blocks enclosing a large courtyard with an open view towards the sea on one side and towards the town centre on the other side. The cladding consists of bronze tone stretch metal panels. 

The courtyard is raised 1.2 meters above street level. The design consists of irregular and curved platforms of wood and flora bounded by corten steel perimeter creating the man-made topography.

Lyngháls 4 - Efla Engineers Headquarters

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : New extension and re-design existing building for new headquarters for Efla engineering firm. 

Client : Eykt / Efla

Architect : PKdM arkitektar

Work for : PKdM arkitektar - Project management, architecture- and  interior design 

Size : 8.600 m²

Project year : 2018 (completion)

The project contains a new 2.000 m2 extension on the south side of the building for an office building with retail or service spaces on the ground floor as well as the design of new headquarters for the engineering firm EFLA. It included retrofitting the existing building and a complete interior design for the engineering office.

The interior design was focused on showcasing EFLA as one of the leading engineering firms in Iceland as well as creating a comfortable, flexible and exciting working environment that was made with ecological considerations in mind and in accordance with the BREEAM international eco-certification standard. The design emphasizes, among other things, on minimizing the building's environmental impact, ensuring good indoor living and promoting sustainability and efficient operation. 

Hólmgarður 34

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Extension and renovation for apartments and retail space

Client : Render

Architect : PKdM arkitektar

Work for : PKdM arkitektar - Project management, architecture- and interior design            

Size : 1.850 m²

Project year : 2020 (completion)

In the past Hólmgarður 34 was for a long time the main shopping center of the neighborhood. There used to be a dairy shop, a barber shop, drycleaner, a bookstore and a grocery store. In recent years , however, Hólmgarður's foot began to slip and it has been in a state of disrepair for years and has been underutilized. 

The project consists of a 3 storey high building with 10 apartments. The apartments are a mixture of one or two storey high, all with a unique floor plan and views. The ground floor is for shops and other commercial use.

A two story extension was designed on top of the existing building. In fact there is a new residential building on top of the old house that will be used for circulation and retail spaces.

On upper levels  the balconies are facing to the south with spectacular views over the east part of the city but on the north side, large windows are facing the quiet street and a charming neighborhood garden. 

A steel structure was designed and placed on the outside of the current building connecting to existing concrete walls. Then the outer walls were built up of insulated wooden units, cladded on the outside with a locked aluminum cladding. Because of this, the building is unique and stands out in its surroundings but still somehow harmonizes with the surrounding buildings in terms of roof structure and scale

Arkarvogur 2 - 15

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Residential building complex with 162 apartments

Client : ÞG Verk

Architect : PKdM arkitektar + Landslag 

Work for : PKdM arkitektar - Concept and execution drawings/management 

Size : 23.390 m²

Project year : 2019 (under construction)

Located in a redevelopment and densification of a former industrial area not far from downtown Reykjavík. The ambitious master plan will be well connected to the public transportation network through the new BRT system.

The buildings in the complex were positioned to extend the stunning views of the estuary of the river Elliðaá to all apartments. 

The commission for the 162 apartment building had a clear demand to maximise repetition in order to guarantee affordable apartments.The regularity of the elevations represents the main character of the building while contrasting to the cladding, a fiber cement plate with a carefully chosen color palette where dynamic rhythms are delivered by protruding aluminium elements.

The complex has an underground parking freeing all the ground level for a green common area

Skólavörðustígur 1A

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Renovation, interior design for a high-end hotel apartments

Client : Kvika

Architect : PK / PKdM arkitektar

Work for : PK / PKdM arkitektar - Project management, architecture- and interior design            

Size : 375 m²

Project year : 2019 (completion)

The building was built in 1938 with a beautiful original stairway and amazing views to the Hallgrímskirkja church at the top of Skólavörðustígur. 

The project included the design of five high-end hotel apartments as well as restoring common areas, basement and partly the exterior.

The focus of the interior design principals was to preserve the building’s character and be consequent to the era when it was built by renewing the essential building components such as the layout of the small bathrooms, windows and cast iron radiators. The new interior elements were then designed to be simple timeless luxury with quality material and finishes to complement the original design features as well as providing spaces with modern day requirements. 

All apartments have an open floor layout to provide flexibility and good natural light passing throughout the spaces as well as to capture the views from all areas within the apartments.

Biðsvæði – torg í biðstöðu

Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

Project: An experimental urban development 

Client : The city of Reykjavík

Work for : The city of Reykjavík - Project management, urban design

Project year : 2011-2013

Torg Í Biðstöðu is a project that makes use of various “meanwhile spaces” in the city of Reykjavík. It initiates projects, invites and funds enthusiastic creatives (not just design professionals) to reconsider their relationship to their surroundings. The project was based on the idea to find dis-used, problematic spaces within the city and experiment with their potential. The project‘s main agenda was to open people's eyes to these potentials and get them to participate in moulding the space's future and therefore strive for an organic and sustainable development that could benefit the city life and surroundings.

Torg Í Biðstöðu has had a great impact on the community, revealing how design and design thinking can change our society and how to deal with problematic places within our environment with low cost. It was also a design tool to try out new ideas before the formal planning process. For instance, Hlemmur Food Court, Óðinstorg square and Hverfisgata development all these projects are statements of the success of this project.

NLFÍ

Location : Hveragerði, Iceland

Project : Kindergarten and Elementary school

Client : Heilsustofnun NLFÍ Hveragerði 

Architect : Úti og Inni arkitektar

Work for : VSÓ Consulting / Project management and structural design        

Size : 1.000 m²

Project year : 2003 (completion)​

Heilsustofnun NLFÍ began operations in July 1955. Dr. Jónas Kristjánsson, who was one of the pioneers of natural medicine policy in Iceland, led the preparation and development of Heilsuhæli NLFÍ, as the institute was then called. The policy of the Icelandic Society of Naturopathy has always been to increase and strengthen the role of the concepts of health and health protection in discussion and work, and to deviate from the monochromatic disease discussion.

The project is a new room wing and bathhouse that is specially designed for water treatments in the spirit of European rehabilitation institutions (Kur Bad). Part of the bathhouse is a 15 m indoor pool, whirlpools, alternating bath, a stretching pool that physiotherapists use to stretch the vertebrae and neck, as well as wet and dry steam and the necessary support spaces.

Laugavegur 4-6

Location : Reykjavík, Iceland

Project : Extension, renovation, interior design. Retail space, exhibition space

Client : L4 / Kvika

Architect : PK / PKdM arkitektar

Work for : PK / PKdM arkitektar - Project management, architecture- and interior design            

Size : 1.300 m²

Project year : 2019 (completion)

This project is as complex as it is fragmented. It involved a careful restoration and renovation of historic buildings as well as designing and fitting a new three storey building into this context, connecting it to the old houses a and two of the main old shopping streets in downtown Reykjavík. The buildings are facing both Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur and together they create a new reality between the old and the new intertwining the streets together in an adventure-like loop where the distinction between outside and inside become blurred.

The main focus was to showcase the older buildings and treat them with respect by selecting materials to have it blend into the context. 

On the ground floor facing Laugavegur the exposed concrete with rough timber texture, formed like traditional house roofs and the large glass panes create a link with the old timber houses to minimize the impact of the new building and give a clear connection from the street to the life, happening inside the building.

The ground floor plan is pushed back to provide view into the basement area, also to get natural light into the basement, so when entering the building you have to cross a bridge over the basement. On the recessed second floor there are only large Okalux glass panes with copper mesh providing a neutral background so the old buildings become the central pieces. On the ground floor facing Skólavörðustígur a new storefront was designed that fits the older building, made with large window panes and a double door with frames of hardwood and copper.

The same concept was used for the interior, using simple but high quality materials, such as steel, hardwood, copper and glass to emphasize on the older buildings, visible inside the space.

Lækjarskóli og Leikskólinn Hörðuvellir

Location : Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Project : Playschool and Elementary school

Client : Hafnarfjörður / Nýtak, FM-hús 

Architect : Á Stofunni arkitektar, Landmótun 

Work for : VSÓ Consulting / Project management and structural design        

Size : Playschool 687 m² and elementary school 8.000 m²

Project year : 2008 (completion)

The project consists of the playschool Hörðuvellir, a four unit playschool, and the elementary school Lækjarskóli with a sports hall / swimming pool, an elementary school for approx. 450 students from first to tenth grade.  The school was part of an effort to integrate schools and includes e.g. multipurpose hall, cafeteria kitchen, sports hall and swimming pool as well as associated spaces.

Many innovations were to support the elegant design and to increase usability with the future in mind. For example, new structural solutions were used in classroom halls so that it was possible to open up between all classrooms and thus create spaces that could be used as meeting spaces or spaces for larger events organized by Hafnarfjörður or other groups. The school's main building is characterized by a light steel support system that vaults over interior space and large window surfaces up to 10 - 12 m high that are both curved in plane and inclined, designed from Schüco skin on a light clamped steel support system to minimize material sizes and costs. ​

Þorlákshöfn Sports Center

Kranzler-Eck

Location : Berlin, Germany

Project : Office and commercial building complex

Client : DIFA Deutsche Immobilien Fonds AG

Architect : Murphy / Jahn Chicago  

Work for :  IFB Dr. Braschel AG / Structural design           

Size : 140.000 m²

Project year : 2000 (completion)

The glass wall towers are 65 metres high with 15 floors above ground and two floors with 600 parking spaces below ground.  The buildings are located behind the traditional Kranzler Eck, at the corner of Joachimsthaler str. and Kurfürstendamm. The new complex, designed by the architect office Murphy / Jahn Chicago, is one of the most interesting locations of the western city district. Surrounding the well-preserved Café Kranzler with its striking awning from the 1950s, a modern shopping centre has been developed with branches of well-known brands and small boutiques.

Azul

Location : São Paulo, Brazil 

Project : Residential and commercial building

Client : Idea Zarvos

Architect : Isay Weinfeld Architects  

Work for :  Isay Weinfeld Architects - Architecture design           

Size : 5.276 m²

Project year : 2016 (completion)

Azul Building is set on a plot with irregular contours between Simpatia and Medeiros de Albuquerque streets, which also slopes a height equivalent to four floors.

The body of the building itself is set at the lower and wider end of the plot and is connected to the main access on the upper end on Simpatia Street  by a suspended walkway over the vehicle ramp.

The building comprises three connected volumes. Two towers of equal height, intersected by the blue painted walkway, and a lower volume. This organization results in a typical floor with two units per story, one in each tower. The third and lower volume houses the swimming pool on the ground floor, and parking and stores on the lower levels.​

Each volume in the ensemble has a different color: the higher volumes, black and gray, and the lower, white. All elements on the façades, such as railings and casings, bear the color of their respective volume, except for the balconies, clad in wood.

The walkway, a key element in the project for its importance as access, stands out for its color blue. Similarly, the vertical connections between the volumes are blue.

La Petite Afrique

Location : Monte Carlo, Monaco

Project : Residential and commercial building

Client : Fine Properties Monte-Carlo

Architect : Isay Weinfeld Architects

Work for : Isay Weinfeld Architects - Architecture design            

Size : 13.000 m²

Project year : 2016 (completion)

Located at the heart of Monte Carlo, the site lies next to the prestigious gardens of Le Grand Casino and a block from the Hotel de Paris and the Salle Garnier.

The most important guidelines for the project since its first conception were the view of the Casino Gardens and on the upper floors the Mediterranean sea. 

Each floor is entirely surrounded with balcony gardens, turning the outdoor view into an extension of the indoor area.

Treptowers and the Molecule Man

Location: Berlin, Germany

Client : Roland Ernst Städtebau / Allianz Immobilien GmbH, Allianz Versicherung AG

Architect : Gerhard Spangenberg, Schweger + Partner

Künstler : Jonathan Borofsky

Work for :  IFB Dr. Brachel AG

Involvement: Structural design

Building volume : 200.000  m²

Building cost : 200 Mio. Euro 

Built : 1996 - 1999

The Treptowers complex consists of four buildings and is the result of an architectural competition held in 1993 and won by the architect Gerhard Spangenberg. The detailed planning and building was carried out by a partnership of architects Schweger and Reichel + Stauth from Brunswick. Roland Ernst joined Urban GmbH & Co. as project developer and overseer of construction. The final construction cost totaled 500 million euros.

The buildings have a square floor plan with a steel and glass facade, though portions of each building have stone facades to create a unified architectural look with neighboring buildings. At 128 meters and 32 floors, Treptowers is the tallest office building in Berlin and the same height as the Park Inn.

The 30 meter high sculpture Molecule Man by Jonathan Borofsky sits in front of Treptowers in the River Spree. The sculpture's three figures represent the three Berlin districts of Treptow, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Treptowers also houses a permanent exhibition of 500 works by contemporary artists.

Bundespresse konferenz

Location : Berlin, Germany

Project : Office and commercial building complex

Client : Allianz Gundstücks GmbH

Architect : Nalbach und Nalbach

Work for :  IFB Dr. Braschel AG / Project Management and Structural design       

Size : 28.000 m²

Project year : 2000 (completion)

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The house of the Federal Press Conference is the seat of the association of the same name in Berlin. The building is located on the Kronprinzenbrücke opposite the parliament buildings in the Spreebogen and in close proximity to the German Bundestag. It was built according to plans by the architects Nalbach + Nalbach. The building has 7 floors above ground and three underground levels for parking,  The inner courtyard, spanned by a glass roof, functions as the lobby of the press room 20 x 18 m, which can be reached via a large flight of stairs, with its characteristic large panorama window protruding from the facade.  Senior representatives of the world of politics, business and culture take questions from the press here.

Goethe Galerie Jena

Location : Jena, Germany

Project : Hotel, office and commercial building complex

Client : HFS Immobilienfonds Deutschland 12

Architect : IFB Dr. Braschel Control-Architects

Work for :  IFB Dr. Braschel AG / Structural design       

Size : 57.000 m²

Project year : 1996 (completion)​

The Goethe Galerie is a shopping center around 29.000 m² and offices and hotel around 28.000 m² in the city of Jena in Thüringen . It is located in Jena city center on a part of the former Zeiss factory premises.