A COOL COMMUNITY
07 Mar 2017
City planning reimagined is the theme behind a new biodome proposal for the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, which will include a central plaza with public spaces for activities and a working urban farm.
Iceland’s weather extremes poses unique challenges for residents and travelers, but the country’s capital, Reykjavik, is planning a series of new eco biodomes that will welcome Icelanders with warmth and style. Designed by Spor i Sandinn, Aldin is a fully sustainable biodome community powered by geothermal energy.
Located in the Elliðaárdalur Valley of Reykjavik, the biodome community will feature a central plaza surrounded by ample public space for social functions and public activities, as well as a marketplace and various cafes. Inside the biodome, the interior temp will be kept at a balmy 25°C – an optimal temperature for tropical plantings and a working urban farm.
According to Hjördís Sigurðardóttir, the founder and CEO of Spor i Sandinn, the project will show the world a new side of Icelandic agriculture. “This glazed landmark Biodome will seek to reconnect people to nature in new and exciting ways, combining the experience of tropical temperatures, with a farmers’ market and an agricultural laboratory,” says Sigurðardóttir.
“Aldin will be a hub for minds and thoughts, a space for a healthy community to meet, shop, relax and socialise, as well as an authentic attraction for tourists.”
Aldin will rent out spaces to green-minded tenants such as farm-to-table restaurants, green product retail stores, and health-related businesses.
Sigurðardóttir contends that the biodome project could also serve as an example of how to create and build new and meaningful infrastructure. “The Biodome represents this. It is a statement of change, highlighting the benefits of another way of thinking and of energy-efficient buildings.”
The Aldin project is currently waiting for approval, but it’s expected to open late 2018 or early 2019.
Via the Polar Connection