Drangar by Studio Granda wins the Icelandic Design Awards 2020

The Icelandic Design Awards 2020 was announced today, 29th of January, digitally. Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation presented the award to Margrét Harðardóttir and Steve Christer architects from Studio Granda for the project Drangar. 

From the jury:
Drangar is an ambitious transformational design project from Studio Grandi and an excellently projected example of a demanding architectural subject in contemporary Iceland. The transformation of several old farm buildings into tourist accommodation is meticulously carried out. The weathered buildings are left more or less untouched to preserve their atmosphere and historical context. This is for example evident in the new main guest building, without windows and doors the old outer walls stand open and raw, doubled with interior walls that allows for an impressive play with shadows and rhythm, thus enhancing their architectural quality and aura.  The interior areas and spaces are framed with warm oak and colors. Colors in different tones and textures are used to give a nod to the former use of the farm buildings, be it the color of bovins or the glossiness of tractors. Detailing is of great quality, materials framing the spaces together around the life within. The project is an important example and sets the standard for an increased number of buildings, not the least in the rural areas, that call for redefinition and reconstruction due to age and new and changed roles.

Drangar is a large estate in Skógarströnd on the northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula including a handful of islands in the Breiðfjörður archipelago. Until recently it was a working farm with a motley collection of buildings, built in the early eighties, according to standard, state issue, blueprints. When the present owners acquired the property, it was in a decrepit state of repair and some buildings had even collapsed of their own accord.

Studio Granda was established in Reykjavík by Margrét Harðardóttir & Steve Christer in 1987.

The Icelandic Design Award started in 2014 and honours the best Icelandic design and architecture annually. The importance of design in our society, culture and business has been growing steadily, and it is therefore vital to increase the understanding of good design and highlight the value of quality.

The jury of the Icelandic Design Awards 2020:
Sigríður Sigurjónsdóttir, chairman of the jury, Museum of Design and Applied Art
Hildigunnur Sverrisdóttir, architect, IUA                                                     
Sigrún Unnarsdóttir, fashion designer, IDA                                                           
Þorleifur Gíslason, grapich designer, IDA                                 
Paul Bennett, chief creative officer IDEO, IDA                                             
Margrét Kristín Sigurðardóttir, SI                                                              
Hörður Lárusson, grapich designer IDA                                        
Sigrún Birgisdóttir, architect, IUA 

The Icelandic Design Award is established by Iceland Design and Architecture in collaboration with the Iceland University of the Arts, the Museum of Design and Applied Art, Promote Iceland, Landsvirkjun and SI - the Federation of Icelandic Industries.