Vatnsmyri, Reykjavik, Iceland
Winner, International Competition, 2008
In 2008, Graeme Massie Architects won the international design competition for the urban planning of Vatnsmyri in Reykjavik, and have subsequently supported the City of Reykjavik in developing proposals for integration into the Municipal Plan.
Vatnsmyri is an area of around 200 hectares near the centre of Reykjavik, which is currently occupied by the domestic airport; however, the municipal plan calls for the airport to be relocated, releasing land for the development essential to ensure that Reykjavik can retain the character of the existing centre (101) while meeting the needs of the future.
The district is predominantly arranged as a responsive grid structure. In addition to the retention of key city-wide views to major landmarks, the grid also traces the alignment of the two principal runways of the existing airport and connects into the existing road network.
