The competition proposal for Klaksvík New City Center takes it’s starting point in the unique landscape of Klaksvík and the old Faroese tradition of gradually developed clusters of houses traditionally called “býlingar”.

A characteristic feature of the traditional Faroese clusters was that there were one or two residential buildings with stables and pens surrounded by smaller outbuildings needed for farming and fishing activities. All of these buildings were contained in a common area grouped around a central croft and carefully laid out to ensure optimal cultivation conditions and maximum consideration for the local natural environment.

The competition proposal units the future buildings of Klaksvík New City Center in four clusters inspired from the traditional “býlingar”. The four clusters run from the bottom of the fjord towards the south through a unifying landscape laid out as a common green area. The vegetation and paths within this landscape are defined as the Detour, the Shortcut and the Sports Road and are an important part of the new town center, both because of their interplay with the buildings and because of their role as transitions to the vast unkempt natural environment of the surrounding landscape and mountains.

The proposal won 3. prize in the open international competition which received more than 150 proposals. The jury said about the project:
“The combination of old Faroese building traditions and a forceful and exciting contemporary idiom is very interesting and deserves great respect.”

Read more about the jury report..