ESKIFJÖRÐUR

OPEN COMPETITION, HONORABLE MENTION 2010

description

In the east fjords of Iceland, the small town of Eskifjörður is home to the first nursing home of its kind in Iceland. The design of the building takes heed of a new philosophy that has come to the fore in recent years regarding the structure of assisted living spaces. The idea is for inhabitants to enjoy the sanctity of a private life, while still having the relevant support and help at hand. Each resident thus lives in small apartments consisting of private rooms including a kitchen, dining room, and living room.

Our proposal posits four individual building components surrounding a central atrium that can be opened up into all of the buildings in order to create a sizable central gathering space for all the inhabitants. One component consists of staff facilities while the other three contain one apartment each.

The building is quite introverted in the sense that all the main outdoor spaces are closed courtyards where inhabitants enjoy shelter from the winds while still enjoying views towards the nearby mountains. The courtyards, which are filled with greenery, are a sort of sanctuary for the inhabitants and can be enjoyed both as a place to visit and as a view from inside the building, as they are visible through large glass panels.

Team

Andri Gunnar Lyngberg Andrésson, Guðni Valberg, Jón Davíð Ásgeirsson

Collaborators

Jarþrúður Jónsdóttir, Þorgerður Hafstað

Location

Eskifjörður, Iceland

Program

Nursing Home

Size

1.500 m2