New Skerjafjörður
A new residential area in Skerjafjörður, offering an eco-friendly lifestyle, is in development. The neighborhood design emphasizes sustainable transportation, resilient vegetation, vibrant daily life and a unique character.
Drawings of New Skerjafjörður
New residential area
New Skerjafjörður is a new residential area being built near the southern part of Reykjavík Airport. The land-use plan is based on ASK Architects' winning proposal, drawing inspiration from Þingholt and old Skerjafjörður. Buildings vary in appearance and type, and the entire environment is planned to be lush and green. The neighborhood will have various types of homes for residents with diverse backgrounds.
Planning
The land-use plan for the first phase of New Skerjafjörður was approved in spring 2021. The first phase includes 600-700 homes and minor commercial activities.
The homes are intended for the general market and for allocation to non-profit housing associations in line with Reykjavík City's Housing Policy. Plans also include a preschool, primary school, parking garage, shops, services and outdoor recreation areas.
In the later phase of development, the neighborhood will expand southward. Part of that development will be on reclaimed land.
Priority for pedestrians and cyclists
Pedestrians and cyclists will be given priority in all design within the neighborhood. Street design is intended for very slow traffic, with parking for lots entirely located in a central parking garage, although some parking is located alongside streets, primarily for persons of reduced mobility.
All streets will be drivable, but the main focus is on social interaction and creating a good neighborhood atmosphere. Streets will be green with attractive leisure areas.
Design guidelines
The design guidelines for the new Skerjafjörður neighborhood set clear directions for an eco-friendly community, presenting a comprehensive policy for public space design in the area. The goal is to create a strong connection between nature and city, fostering an environment that encourages social activities and is environmentally and economically sustainable. New Skerjafjörður offers residents an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Questions and answers about New Skerjafjörður
What about the traffic on Einarsnes?
Changes to the existing Einarsnes and its paths are planned to reduce traffic speed and improve access and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The specific changes haven't been decided, but the land-use plan presented an initial concept. Preliminary design work hasn't started, as all design work for New Skerjafjörður was postponed while a working group studied the development's impact on airport operations. Work should begin this summer or fall. The residents' council will facilitate discussions with residents about ideas.
To mitigate traffic impact during construction, officials are considering a temporary road south of the runway's end to distribute traffic load. During detailed design and tender preparation, officials will assess the need for temporary measures on Einarsnes or elsewhere to reduce negative traffic impacts during construction.
Is there pollution in the soil?
During the preparation of the land-use plan, extensive soil investigation and pollution studies were conducted. A total of 96 holes were drilled and/or inspected. Of these, 64 soil samples were taken and sent to Norway for analysis. Results indicate that there are very different soil conditions present due to previous activities in the area. Some areas have significant pollution that needs to be removed or cleaned, while other areas have little to no contamination, and the soil is safe for continued use, such as for soil management or land reclamation.
Reykjavík City's specialized departments have extensive experience in dealing with contaminated soil on construction sites.
What about land reclamation?
Land reclamation is not part of the initial development phase. Reykjavík City took the initiative to subject the reclamation project in the New Skerjafjörður to an environmental impact assessment to gather comments and suggestions before commencement of works and to draft remedial measures. Reykjavík City submitted a preliminary assessment report on the environmental impact of the reclamation works at the New Skerjafjörður in November 2021. A public livestream meeting took place in January 2022.
Related news
Information
We prioritize good communication. New information and data will be added to this page as it becomes available.
- Department of Environment & Planning, Borgartún 12-14, 105 Reykjavík, phone 411 1111
For any questions, please email mailto:skipulag@reykjavik.is.