Edda, center for Icelandic Studies winner of Place at the Icelandic Design Awards 2023
Edda, center for Icelandic Studies is the winner in the category Place at the Icelandic Design Awards 2023. Edda is by Hornsteinar Architects and creates a new framework for Icelandic national heritage, a strong landmark adapting well to its surroundings.
From the jury:
Edda, center for Icelandic Studies, is a unique and impressive building. Impeccable and professional work with attention to detail on the outside and inside. The oval shape of the building and the texture of the exterior hints at something valuable inside, standing in a reflecting pond and a copper cladding with text from manuscripts, decorating the walls and arouses curiosity of what lives within. Edda is open and bright with beautiful interiors which emphasize airiness and light.
Edda creates a new framework for Icelandic national heritage, a strong landmark adapting well to its surroundings. The interior is well executed, bright, environmentally friendly and serves well the multifaceted activities taking place in the building. Hornsteinar architects has successfully created a characteristic and impressive building that suits the subject.
A key building for Icelandic society as a home to the Icelandic Manuscripts, a treasure trove of Icelandic national heritage uniting the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies and the Faculty of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies. Edda allows preservation and access to Iceland's most precious cultural heritage, for a long time to come.
Hermann Jónasson, director of The Housing and Construction Authorities of Iceland, gave Hornsteinar Architects the awards at the award ceremony that took place for the 10th time on November 9th in Gróska, in the presence of a large crowd who celebrated outstanding design. To mark the occasion, the award categories have been increased to three: Product // Place // Project with one winner in each category.
The category Place calls for outstandingly designed projects that have their place in the space. Various spaces, buildings, districts, squares, parks and places are considered.
The Icelandic Design Award honours the best Icelandic design and architecture annually. The importance of design in 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 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, The Housing and Construction Authorities of Iceland, SI - the Federation of Icelandic Industries and Gróska.
