EFLA's proposal in The Nordic Built Cities Challenge
The Nordic Built Cities Challenge is an open, multidisciplinary competition to develop solutions for Nordic urban challenges. It was launched in early 2015 and carried on until 2016. The overall aim of the Nordic Built Cities Challenge is to visualize and export innovative Nordic solutions for smart, liveable and sustainable cities.
One urban space within each of the Nordic countries was picked for the challenge. In Iceland, a former harbour area at Kársnes in Kópavogur was chosen, a development area where a mixed inhabited area is planned. The challenge was aimed to enhance the connectivity of Kársnes and the Reykjavik region, making Kársnes a dynamic and sustainable urban area for people, businesses and the environment.
EFLA and Basalt Architects joined forces and participated in the competition as collaborators. The competition was carried out in two phases and the first phase was publicly open for submissions and a total of 19 propositions came from Iceland. Four proposals were selected by a panel of judges and carried on to the second phase of the competition. EFLA and Basalt Architects are proud to announce that the result of their collaboration, the proposal „Harbouring life", was one of four shortlisted proposals.
The winner of the Icelandic challenge in Kársnes was announced in June and the proposal from team „Spot on Kársnes" was nominated as winner. All the shortlisted proposals were eligible for entering the overall Nordic winner of the Nordic Built Cities Challenge. EFLA and Basalt Architects submitted their proposal and the results in the overall competition will be announced in November.
The Nordic Built Cities programme has established a platform of cooperation by providing a common set of fundamentally Nordic values. The 10 principles represent the strengths and aspirations of the Nordic approach to make liveable, smart and sustainable cities and buildings. EFLA and Basalt Architects have implemented the Nordic Built principles in all their work and business plans in order to build a sustainable environment that benefit users, building sector and region. Furthermore the team consulted with its current residents, business owners in the area and specialists on specifics issues such as innovation.
EFLA's team consisted of Helga Jóhanna Bjarnadóttir, Eva Dís Þórðardóttir and Bryndís Friðriksdóttir but other employees were involved with the proposal, in the first and second phase.
Conclusion from the jury can be found here