44 South Street – New in keeping with the old
The mayor inspected the new block of flats at 44 South Street and says that it fAn excellent example of a development that enhances the quality of the neighbourhood and respects the local history.
New, in keeping with the neighbourhood on South Street
A splendid sight greeted the mayor and councillors as they inspected a thirteen-flat block of flats which has been erected on Suðurgata, opposite St. Joseph's Hospital.
The house was designed by Gunnar Páll Kristinsson, who showed the mayor around the site along with representatives from the estate agency Áss and the owners. It is clear that great care has been taken in the work. Gunnar, for instance, designed the pattern on the aluminium panels that adorn the house.
Mayor Valdimar Víðisson congratulated the developers. „This is a fine example of infill development that enhances the quality of the neighbourhood and respects the site's history. It shows what happens when ambition, good design and respect for the environment come together,“ he said.
The apartments range from two- to four-room penthouses. Their sizes range from 60.6 to 171.4 square metres. They are bright and fitted with Italian furnishings. Each apartment has its own private parking space, and the option to purchase an additional space is available.
„All the proportions of the house are in keeping with the older buildings in the surrounding area,“ explained Gunnar, the house's architect, as he gave a tour of the premises.
„This is a neat block of flats and the aim was to blend old and new eras in the appearance of the buildings. I didn't want to replicate the architectural style of the older buildings, but rather to give the building a contemporary feel, while still referencing the old days, so that it would fit in well with the older buildings.“
He described how the window types and the external cladding refer to a bygone era and how the cladding was used to emphasise that each flat was a self-contained unit.
„Each building block has its own colour. It's therefore a collection of flats rather than one large block of flats.“ He described how he had thought through every nook and cranny of the house and the quality of the materials chosen.
Valdimar says the building is an example of how a new house in an old neighbourhood can fit perfectly into the streetscape. „When we do it like this, we strengthen the streetscape and improve the social life of the town.“