02 Proposal for the Miklabraut Cap

Philosophy

The idea is to create a high-quality development that unifies nearby neighborhoods and creates a core community for them. The new development is seamlessly incorporated into the current neighborhoods and developed around the Landspítali, Norðurmýri, Hlíðarendi, and Skógarhlíð. This new development offers services that both new and current residents within the area will benefit from. An increase in population and improved connections support commercial activities.

A video showing Miklabraut in a highway cap – Proposal from Yrki arkitektar, Dagný Land Design, and Hnit verkfræðistofa.

High-quality development can be achieved by focusing planning and design in such a manner that basic services for daily needs are within a 10-20 minute walking distance from home.

Highway cap implementation

The main traffic of Miklabraut, in east and west directions, goes into a cap under Snorrabraut. Snorrabraut is then extended over the highway cap to Arnarhlíð and Nauthólsvegur.

Traffic toward the west along Bústaðavegur goes over the highway cap and across Miklabraut where it then merges with the western flow of the route. Traffic on Bústaðavegur going east joins Miklabraut in a cap under Snorrabraut and then into a separate lane which connects where Bústaðavegur is now at Flugvallarvegur.

Neighborhood characteristics

One of the main goals is to ensure that the new development best adapts to nearby neighborhoods and logically connects them. Thus, the new development respects the adjacent neighborhoods, ensuring the heights and sizes of buildings fit well with the existing environment. The buildings then shape an interesting interplay of courtyards, playgrounds, and squares that are connected by paths and streets.

Parks and public spaces

Emphasis is placed on using spaces between buildings for shared parks, playgrounds, and public squares for residents and visitors. The placement of buildings and their layouts create interesting, diverse and sunny spaces between them.

Newer developments also include smaller squares and gardens (for instance playgrounds) that benefit the nearby residents.

New transportation hub, BSÍ

A new transportation hub, BSÍ, is planned near the CityLine's central station. It's from here that buses will depart for and from Keflavík Airport ('airport shuttle') and other scheduled trips outside the capital area.

A waiting area for buses and coaches is planned on the ground floor of a building north of the central station. The ground floor is open to Burknagata and functions like an open parking garage, exclusively for buses and coaches. Above the waiting area will sit Landspítali's office building.

This will be an overall transportation hub with a large number of passengers due to proximity to Landspítali, CityLine's central station, BSÍ and the densely populated city center.

The CityLine's central station, in conjunction with BSÍ, makes all connections between bus routes from Keflavík Airport and organized coach travel from outside the capital via the Strætó Public Transport and CityLine systems easier. Visiting Reykjavík, or making short trips away, can be done without the need for a car.

Herdísartorg Square

The CityLine central station is situated at Herdísartorg, where nearby cafés and restaurants may extend their operations onto the square. Herdís Bersadóttir was the first wife of Snorri Sturluson for whom Snorrabraut is named. The square is especially sunny, opening to the south and west. Additionally, the adjacent buildings provide good shelter from northern winds.

Snorrabraut shopping street

The extension of Snorrabraut will be the lifeline of the new development with shops, services and dwellings.

The central station is located by the street and separate CityLine lanes run through the middle of the street in conjunction with car lanes. Biking paths extend all along Snorrabraut which connects the coastal path at Sæbraut to Nauthólsvík and Fossvogur.

Pedestrian and cycling traffic

As stated before, the proposal is primarily on the terms of pedestrians. Pedestrians move slower and thus have more opportunities to experience and perceive their surroundings better. Special attention is paid to having a dense network of walking paths along streets and paths between public parks so that the area offers both efficient walking paths to move along, as well as a good and diverse experience for people who want take a longer route home.