Neighbourhood centres
An important part in the neighbourhood plan is to strengthen the neighbourhood centres and boost commercial activities within walking distance for the residents.
The three neighbourhoods in Breiðholt are well situated regarding access to a variety of shopping and services, e.g. due to their closeness to Mjódd. However there are significantly fewer neighbourhood services in the Seljahverfi area than in Efra-Breiðholt and Neðra Breiðholt.
In Mjódd there is a plan for further development regarding commercial buildings and new flats which will further facilitate retail and services. These extensive changes will not be addresse in the neighbourhood plan but rather in a local development plan in Mjódd.
Breiðholt is well situated regarding access to shops and services
The neighbourhood centres were the venue for ideas and comments from the residents during the consultation period of the neighbourhood plan. Wishes emerged concerning a variety of shops and services which people want to have within walking distance. Similarly there was a widespread call for renovation of housing and the surroundings of some of the centres that have seen better days.
Arnarbakki
The present situation at Arnarbakki. Proposals for strengthening the neighbourhood centre have been approved.
Picture: Bragi Þór Jósefsson
Neðra-Breiðholt
Neighbourhood services in Neðra-Breiðholt are available in the centre at Arnarbakki. Proposals have been approved for strengthening the centre by removing the old buildings and construct new buildings with shopping facilities and services in parts of the ground floor and with student apartments on the upper floors. The whole surroundings of the centre will be improved and a neighbourhood square will be constructed which will connect with the neighbourhood´s urban city street. The new buildings in the centre have a total area of 12,000 m².
New buildings at Arnarbakki, improved environment and the neighbourhood square will strengthen the centre
New buildings adapted to the populated area
During the presentation period of the neighbourhood plan in the summer of 2020 a number of comments and observations were received concerning the Arnarbakki proposals, which for the most part were connected with the height of the intended houses and style of roof and intentions regarding the construction of a multiple-use building at Bakkatún. Account has been taken of these comments and observations in the the final plan. The construction of a multiple-use building at Bakkatún and ideas for community vegetable gardens north of the centre, were dropped. In addition, the height of the buildings and the form of roofs have been further adapted to the pre-existing residential buildings.
Arnarbakki – the design for the new buildings
View towards the new neighbourhood centre houses to the left. Area for outdoor activities and walking paths through the so-called Bakkatún meadows east of the centre.
Illustrations: Basalt architects.
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Seljahverfi
The density of the settled area in Seljahverfi is significantly lower than in the other neighbourhoods of Breiðholt, so shopping and services are not in a convenient walking distance for a large proportion of the residents. There are two grocery stores in the eastern part of the area but there is no proper neighbourhood centre in Seljahverfi.
There is therefore an emphasis in the neighbourhood plan on developing a strong neighbourhood centre at Rangársel and Hólmasel with an emphasis on retail and services on the ground floors, flats on the upper floors and a good connection with the surrounding open areas.
There is an emphasis on developing a strong neighbourhood centre at Rangársel and Hólmasel
Seljahverfi
The present situation at Rangársel and Hólmasel. It has been decided that the neighbourhood will be a special development zone, to facilitate its development as the neighbourhood centre of Seljahverfi.
Picture: City of Reykjavík.
Rangársel – Hólmasel is a development area
Several comments and observations were received during the period of presentation in the summer of 2020 regarding plans for the development of a neighbourhood centre at Rangársel. These were i.a. related to concerns that traffic in the area would increase, and that open areas would be encroached upon and that the businesses would not thrive.
All comments received were sent to planning consultants for a substantive examination, and subsequently it was decided to make the area in question a special development zone. This means that for the present time there are no permits issued in the neighbourhood plan for the development of the area, but it is assumed that proposals will be developed in a special local plan in the coming months. By doing so, more time will be provided in order to develop the ideas in consultation with stakeholders and residents and in concert with the emphasis points of the municipal plan for Reykjavík.
It can be expected that the following aspects will be taken into account in the local planning work of the area:
-Urban street by Rangársel and Hólmasel with a neighborhood square, a local station and shared cars and an electric charging station.
-Land use will be improved with new building permits. There will be a considerable increase in housing, mainly on the upper floors.
– Commercial activities will be in part of the housing.
– Facilities for community services will be improved.
– The scouts’ request for housing in the area will be taken into account.
The Rangársel development zone
Rangársel-Hólmasel is now defined as a development zone and a neighbourhood centre in the neighbourhood plan.
The area is approx. 47 thousand m² in size, see illustration on the left. The illustration on the right shows a the possible development of the neighbourhood.
Aerial photo and illustration: City of Reykjavík and Jakob Jakobsson architect.
Efra-Breiðholt
In Efra-Breiðholt there are two main centres for neighbourhood services, Fellagarðar at Eddufell and Hólagarður.
One could however say that the centre of the area is rather at Gerðuberg-Hraunberg and Austurberg, where many of the main service establishments of the area are linked: The Gerðuberg Culture House, the library, the swimming pool, the health care centre, the leisure activity centre, the secondary school and more, mixed in with shopping facilities and other services.
At Gerðuberg and Austurberg is the centre of Efra-Breiðholt and of this sector of the city as a whole
Efra-Breiðholt
The present situation at Austurberg. The area will be strengthened, both as a neighbourhood centre and a centre for the city sector Breiðholt as a whole.
Picture: City of Reykjavík.
Gerðuberg-Austurberg
The aim of the neighbourhood plan is to strengthen this part as an area centre as well as the centre of the Breiðholt city sector as a whole. Taht will be done with an increased supply of commercial and residential housing, thus increasing the balance in the number of flats and employment opportunities.
Roughly speaking the land utilisation in the area is to be improved by allowing new constructions and extensions to older housing along the urban road Austurberg and at Gerðuberg and Hraunberg. It is assumed that the number of flats can be increased significantly by new construction and extensions on the plots of apartment houses on Austurberg and that adjacent to the shopping centre at Hraunberg and Gerðuberg there will be commercial spaces on the ground floors but flats on the upper floors. Public spaces and a square will be designed and redefined alongside the development and in connection with the redesign of the urban road at Austurberg.
Gerðuberg-Austurberg
Here it is shown how both residential and commercial housing can be increased in order to strengthen this centre of Efra-Breiðholt and its neighbourhood centre. Buildings already in the area are white but possible outbuildings and new buildings are light red.
Illustration: Jakob Jakobsson architect.
Dance and gymnasium centre
Gerðuberg is expected to have a dance and gymnastics centre, which will be a midpoint for dance and other related disciplines in Reykjavík and support the cultural, educational and sports center of the district on the city street Austurberg.
The area already has the Gerðuberg cultural center, the Miðberg leisure center, a music school, Fjölbrautaskólinn í Breiðholt and a swimming pool, as well as other sports facilities. There is also the district square Markúsartorg, which is planned to be further strengthened. At the same time, the City Line’s Breiðholt-lane will go there in the future.
It is hoped that all types of dance will be enjoyed in the dance and gymnastics house, which will serve both the residents of Breiðholt and the city as a whole. With an emphasis on diverse dance practice, such a house should further strengthen the multinational community in the city.
The Junior College in Breiðholt
Following discussions with the Ministry of Education, the Junior Collage authorities and Framkvæmdasýsla ríkisins (the State Construction Agency) in connection with the work of the neighbourhood plan, it was decided that the development of facilities for the school will be according to approved planning permits at the lot at Hraunberg 8. In addition, the school will have increased permits to build on the school’s present parking lot at Austurberg. Instead, parking will be provided in the basement of the new building.
The Breiðholt Junior College lot
The illustration shows the plans from 2021 that permit the construction of two warehouses at the left of the warehouse at the top to the right in the illustration.
Illustration: Jakob Jakobsson architect.
Eddufell-Völvufell
Extensive renovations will be carried out at Eddufell and Völvufell. Older buildings will partly be removed and new buildings will be constructed, i.a. for a common kindergarten for Fellahverfi, student housing and flats in row houses in the southernmost part of the area. Stores and services will continue to be at Fellagarðar and it is permitted to have flats on the upper floors of the stores.
Extensive renovations will be carried out at Eddufell and Völvufell
Eddufell-Völvufell
The drawing shows approved proposals for the renovation at Eddufell-Völvufell, with changes made following consultation with residents.
Illustrations: Krads architects.
Eddufell – Völvufell
The illustration to the left shows the new kindergarten and the illustration to the right shows new family houses at Drafnarfell.
Illustrations: Krads architects
Hólagarður
Hólagarður, together with the adjacent kindergarten plots and uninhabited areas to the east, is defined as a development zone in Efra-Breiðholt´s neighbourhood plan. This means that no permits are currently given for the development of the zone. Instead, it is expected that a special local plan will be developed in the coming months. This arrangement provides a better opportunity to develop ideas for the area in consultation with stakeholders and residents and in line with the emphasis in Reykjavík’s municipal plan.
Hólagarður
The present situation at Hólagarður in Efra-Breiðholt.
Picture: City of Reykjavík
It can be expected that the following aspects will be taken into account in the local planning work of the area:
– Trade and services will continue on the ground floors at Hólagarður, but apartments and commercial premises will be permitted in upper or new buildings.
– The buildings at the shopping center will be 3-5 storeys high.
– A car park will be located underground and a new neighborhood square in connection with a shopping center will be designed on the roof of the car park.