The heating conduit
The work proposals for the Háaleiti-Bústaðir neighborhood plan propose to give the old heating conduit a place of pride again as the backbone of the Bústaðahverfi neighborhood and a landmark that will strengthen both the local spirit and improve neighborhood awareness
It is proposed that the heating conduit, which stretched from Reykir in Mosfellssveit to the tanks in Öskjuhlíð, will be a part of the walking and cycling path system of the district. The conduit was the longest heating pipeline in the world at the time, 15 km long and due to the heat it melted snow. It was therefore an important walking route between both neighborhoods and municipalities, as it was at the time, the first structure to bridge several streams on the way from Mosfellssveit to the city.
It can be said that this proposal is both in line with the land use plan’s policy of strengthening environmentally friendly means of transport within neighborhood units and also responds to residents’ suggestions in the neighborhood planning public consultation process that there is a lack of landmarks in the neighborhoods, something that connects neighborhoods to history and will be marked as historical sites or city relics.
The proposal strengthens environmentally friendly means of transport within the neighborhood and also responds to residents’ suggestions in the public consultation process of the neighborhood plan that there is a lack of landmarks in the neighborhoods
Elliðaárdalur – Réttarholtsvegur
Here you can see the location of the heating conduit from Elliðaárdalur and running past Réttaholtsskóli.
Image: Hornsteinar Architects.
Réttarholtsvegur – Öskjuhlíð
Here you can see how the heating conduit runs from Réttarholtsvegur towards the water tanks in Öskjuhlíð.
Image: Hornsteinar Architects.
Unique walking route and experience
The conduit was considered a unique walking route, a true experience and now it will also be the schools’ main connection to the neighborhood, a good and comfortable walking route for young and old to get between places, the “love path” after school dances and a playground for children of all ages.
Hot pools and foot baths
Today, the heating conduit has seen better days. A long stretch of it has been corrupted or buried but it is mostly intact where it lies around Bústaðahverfi down to Elliðaárdalur and in Ártúnsbrekka into Árbær.
Along the heating conduit and up against it today are schoolyards, kindergarten yards, apartments for the elderly and general public housing.
The neighborhood plan seeks to connect the heating conduit to different sized rest stops and populated areas, with interesting facilities for the young and old alike. There could be, e.g. playgrounds, seasonal garden spaces, endurance tracks and more.
One could also note the ideas for hot pools or foot baths with a direct connection to the heating conduit and the hot vein underneath!
Cultural and historical axis
It is the opinion of the neighborhood planning consultants that if the heating conduit is renewed in this way, it will strengthen both the local spirit and improve neighborhood awareness in Bústaðahverfi. The heating conduit will once again be a part of the residents’ daily lives, both as a landmark and a walking path that offers a fun experience.
