The Alliance House

The Alliance House features well-proportioned design, with two connected wings and a set-back midsection, both respecting the golden ratio in terms of width. The building is not overloaded with ornamentation, as it is a commercial structure, but features deliberate and beautiful window placement tailored to its original use. Its simple appearance is therefore considered a testament to good architecture.

Built as a salt curing house, it holds significant cultural and historical value as evidence of the industry that once characterized the old West Town district. It has been little changed from its original form and is highly valuable to its environment in the harbor area.

Recently, a new detailed plan was approved for the property, offering opportunities to build facilities for new and interesting activities on the site.

Considering the historical importance and location of the building, a competition is held where the purchase price is evaluated as fifty percent in relation to other factors.

Applications

Bidders must submit a report and drawings to explain their concepts for the site. In evaluating offers, the price is valued equally against other factors. Part of the house is currently leased to several parties.

A field trip around the house will be offered to interested bidders by arrangement.

Bidders are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the important aspects of the evaluation process when selecting a submitted purchase offer.

These include matters related to planning, particularly originality, and connection to the environment, as well as social relevance in terms of planning. Additionally, the evaluation is based on access to the building and site, as well as the importance of design and presentation.

In the design, the quality of connections and adaptation to the environment, the quality of urban design in bidders' concepts, plus the planned quality of private spaces are taken into account. Furthermore, the design evaluation also involves the innovation presented in design concepts.

In addition to the aforementioned factors regarding planning and design in evaluating purchase offers, it also relies on bidders' concepts of sustainability and the expected carbon footprint from the utilization of the site and space. The offered purchase price accounts for 50% compared to the above factors in the evaluation of offers.

Reykjavík City reserves the right to accept any offer or reject all offers. The minimum purchase offer must amount to ISK. 850,000,000.-

Applications must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked "Alliance - Grandagarður 2" to the Reykjavík City Service Center no later than 12pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

For further information, contact the Reykjavík Real Estate Office via the email address esr@reykjavik.is

About Grandagarður 2

Reykjavík City acquired the building in 2012. Renovations of the building's exterior have been completed, respecting the spirit of the past. Today, several companies operate within the building. These include the Saga Museum, the Northern Lights Exhibition, and the restaurant Matur og Drykkur. Additionally, several art groups rent facilities on the upper floors of the building.

The property's detailed plan report states the following about the building: Grandagarður 2, Alliance House, was protected by the Minister of Education on February 3, 2010, citing Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Building Preservation No. 104/2001. The protection extends to the external surface of the main building. The house is made of concrete and was built in the years 1924 to 1925 according to the designs of Guðmundur H. Þorláksson, master builder. It is considered to have great architectural value as an example of Guðmundur's splendid workmanship.