Draft urban design policy released for public comment
A draft urban design policy is now available on the City's Consultation Portal. The policy's main goal is to create a people-focused and sustainable city that strengthens community, reflects our cultural heritage, and provides diverse opportunities for all residents. The policy calls for clearer positions on future development projects and provides a framework for decision-making and implementation that supports planning, environmental goals, and resident welfare.
The draft policy has been presented to and reviewed by relevant Department of Environment & Planning staff, and has also received input from professional organizations including the Association of Icelandic Landscape Architects, the Architects Association of Iceland, and the Híbýlaauður. Officials are now seeking feedback from the public and other stakeholders. The policy has been presented to the Environment & Planning Council and will be submitted to the council for approval after the consultation period ends.
A comprehensive vision for the future
"The urban design policy presented here sets forth a vital and comprehensive vision for the city's future development, where community, uniqueness, planning, efficiency, quality of place, and design serve as guiding principles. The policy puts people's needs first, calling for us to shape a city where everyone can find their place—regardless of age, background, status, or circumstances. It emphasizes safe, accessible, and attractive public spaces that create a supportive environment for residents, where they can recharge, meet, interact, travel actively, and enjoy the ocean, nature, and mountain views in the urban landscape," the policy states.
A key tool for planners and developers
The policy states that Reykjavík should be a city built on diversity and respect for history, but also one that embraces new ideas and future solutions. It is a crucial resource for everyone working on city planning and design, whether they are property owners, developers, designers, or city staff. "The policy is also important as a promise to residents about the commitments that must be upheld when developing the city, and it outlines the key principles for designing and planning a thriving city," the policy states.
Prioritizing quality in urban development
"It's a major milestone to present Reykjavík's first urban design policy. This policy aims to strengthen the focus on quality in the city's development. It implements the municipal plan's overarching vision of a green and human-centered environment through the small but critical details. In recent years, we have emphasized densifying development and ensuring efficient land use in line with the international focus on sustainable urban development. However, the approach is critical. It must be guided by the needs of residents, prioritizing their happiness and welfare. We must learn from what has worked well but also from what could have gone better. That's what this policy is about," says Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir, chair of the urban design policy steering group and chair of the Environment & Planning Council, in her foreword to the policy document.
The center of Icelandic urban life
The first chapter of the urban design policy emphasizes that Reykjavík is the center of Icelandic urban life—a city that stands on the foundation of history while looking toward the future. "Here, culture, nature, and history are woven together in residents' daily lives, which we want to preserve and strengthen. We want Reykjavík to be a city for all of us—a vibrant, diverse, and human-centered city with a strong identity and rich cultural life that reflects its uniqueness and strengthens residents' sense of community—a city where spaces between buildings, streets, squares, and open areas are hubs for community gathering and interaction," it states.
The public is encouraged to review the policy on the Consultation Portal. The portal will accept suggestions and comments through October 23.