Reykjavík sem ekki varð
By: Anna Dröfn Ágústsdóttir, Guðni Valberg
Publisher: Crymogea
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Reykjavík
Language: ice
Number of pages: 220
ISBN-13: 9789935420541
Subjects: Buildings, structures; History
Description: Since Reykjavík started to be built up as the capital of Iceland in the 19th century, both the state and city planning authorities have had a special interest in making the area around Arnarhóll hill and by the Pond home to the city's most important administrative and cultural buildings. Key buildings that would eventually house parliament, the national theatre, town hall and the university were originally proposed to stand in different locations all over the city centre, alternate locations which today seem very peculiar. In many cases, it was only by coincidence that the construction of these buildings was cancelled, oftentimes after the project was already underway. The historian Anna Dröfn Ágústsdóttir and the architect Guðni Valberg share the history of Reykjavíks buildings that never were and use photos to show the city that could have been, but never became.