H59 Social Housing

The buildings location is downtown Reykjavík. It's shape responds to the site, the footprint is smaller than the upper floors, allowing existing vegetation to flow beneath and open up for play and socializing. A major goal was to reduce the building’s carbon footprint by reusing materials. The house differs from traditional Icelandic architecture, it's a small rebellion that declares, it's possible to build differently, and perhaps we must in an age of climate change. Reused elements bring stories, like the windows in the common area, once meant for another home, now framing a new view of the sea

The project’s main goal was to design a residential building for people with disabilities moving away from home for the first time. Creating a beautiful home that also encouraged social interaction was essential. Given the environmental impact of construction, strong sustainability goals were set and achieved. The building became Iceland’s first project where the carbon footprint was systematically reduced alongside the design process. Through targeted material reuse, emissions were cut by 53% compared to a reference building, far exceeding Icelands target of 30% reduction before 2030. To achieve these goals, existing construction systems were reviewed and challenged through close collaboration between designers, contractors, and the client. No unnecessary materials were used, and structural elements were optimized to lower emissions. Many materials were reused, leftover wood for cladding, recycled parquet from a sports hall, off-cut stone tiles, reused doors, salvaged windows, and reduced cement through innovative low-carbon methods.

The building is a traditional Icelandic concrete construction, but with a focus on reducing its carbon footprint. New methods were developed to reuse materials that had already emitted carbon or to lower emissions from new materials. Reused components include broken concrete tiles as concrete admixture, six salvaged windows and glass, stone tiles made from off-cuts of another building’s cladding, parquet from an old sports floor, and exterior cladding made from leftover and waste timber. These choices created challenges, as current building processes are not designed for this approach, yet they encouraged all parties to rethink waste and the value of materials. The building is easy to maintain, with exposed systems and minimal finishes. Unpainted surfaces reduce upkeep, and modular cladding simplifies repairs. The Shou Sugi Ban technique ensures durability equal to industrial heat-treated wood. Working within standard regulations and timelines, the project shifted costs from materials to design, keeping overall expenses comparable to a conventional build.