Excessive city intensification exceeds acceptable limits
Freshening Up Urban Development: Everyday Life Matters More Than Profit, Says Iceland's Newest Architecture Chief
In a brutally honest interview with Morgunblaðið, the newly anointed leader of Iceland's Association of Architects, Helga Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, lays it all out there: the intense drive for profit in urban planning is eroding architectural quality and compromising the livability of new developments.
While acknowledging the multitude of benefits urban densification can offer, she throws down the gauntlet, warning against overstepping the mark. "If you've ever been stuck in a dark, windowless apartment during Iceland's bleak winter months, you'll understand why I'm worried," she admits. According to her, the excessive density and cramped arrangement of buildings means that many apartments don't get enough natural light for a considerable part of the year.
The crux of the issue, says the passionate architect, is putting residents and users front and center. "How we design buildings affects the very fabric of our daily lives," she stresses. "That's why we can't compromise on the quality of life for the folks living inside them."
The Power of the Professionals
Emphasis on professional input in urban planning discussions is another key point for Vilmundardóttir. "Architects have an essential role to play in shaping public discourse and decision-making about urban development," she asserts. "We do more than just build and design. We're shaping the environment in which thousands of lives unfold every day."
The Framework of Our Lives
It's clear that for Helga, the stakes are high. "We're creating the environment for people to thrive – or struggle. Housing is the foundation of people's lives, so it's our duty to get it right," she concludes, underscoring her dedication to prioritizing residents' needs.
Her words echo a growing chorus of voices in the worldwide urban design debate, advocating for a shift towards more sustainable, human-centric development. As chairwoman of the Icelandic Association of Architects, Helga Guðrún Vilmundardóttir promises to be a formidable voice in the conversation, ensuring a brighter, better-lit future for Iceland's urban dwellers.
- Helga Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, the head of Iceland's Association of Architects, asserts that architects play a crucial role in shaping urban development discussions and decisions, going beyond just building and designing.
- Vilmundardóttir emphasizes that the environment created by urban developments significantly impacts the daily lives of thousands of people, and that's why architects should prioritize the quality of life for residents.
- In the home-and-garden section of Morgunblaðið, one could read about Helga's concerns over excessive urban densification, claiming that cramped arrangements of buildings lead to a lack of natural light in many apartments, compromising residents' lifestyles.
- As chairwoman of the Icelandic Association of Architects, Helga Guðrún Vilmundardóttir believes that it's their duty to create an environment that promotes the thriving of people rather than struggle, focusing on the needs of urban dwellers and adopting a more sustainable, human-centric approach to development.
