Blikanes 20 - Single Family House

The brief required a construction of a single family house on a site within a saturated residential quarter in the outskirts of Reykjavik. The area is located on the Arnarnes peninsula of Gardabaer a town of 8000 inhabitants some 10 km from the capital Reykjavik. The site is facing south to the the street Blikanes with a limited view to the sea across the presidential residence Bessastaðir. The composition is two basic boxes layed out as to form between the two a void to create an area of quiteness within the complex. The void assimilates adjacent spaces and is generated with bare walls and a flow of indirect daylight from a 6 meters long sky window facing north. The two boxes are clusters of containers and house a living wing to the street and a sleeping wing set to the back of the site. The atmosphere throughout the house is primarily obtained by the emptyness between the two boxes and the movements from container to container through that space. The flow of spaces is further enhanced by the continuous surfaces throughout the house attained by the layering of openings contra massive heavy barriers. Frameless openings encourage views from one space to another.

The entrance is a two story high space linked directly to the void connecting the two volumens. Kitchen, dining and living is a one and a half story high space with a huge corner window as the focus point capturing the view to the sea. The private wing is two story high housing the bedrooms and sanitarie spaces on the upper floor and a service and house keeper quarter on the lover one. An exterior terrasse and solarium, sauna, hot tub and gym is facing the south and the street and thus sheltered with a 1.8 meter high concrete wall to prevent direct view from by passers. This fortress plays further more the role of guiding the entrasse path from the street to the main entrance.

Structural system is reinforced concrete walls and slabs. Main materials are plastered exterior walls with inlays of Icelandic Líparít stone stripes (Red Ryolite) and reflective glass in aluminium construction. Roof construction is flat concrete slabs insulated on the outside and covered with loadbearing gravel. Roof light construction is cladded with zink sheets. Interior walls are plastered. Flooring is sandstone tiles in public spaces and oak parquet in private areas. Suspended ceilings are gips carton cladding with sound absorbing quality and integrated lighting. Railings are toughend single green glass panes. Fixed interior furnitures oak lined with black interior are custommade from the design of the architect. Mechanical system is floor heating and cooling.