Vesturbærinn is set to become the largest urban conservation area in the country

Our Vesturbær has become the largest protected urban area in Iceland. Within the area there are over 230 houses and building sections, and the protection reflects our ambition as the people of Hafnarfjörður in this field.

Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, has just confirmed the proposal of the Hafnarfjörður town council to protect Vesturbærinn in Siggubær.

The minister says that the proposal shows foresight, ambition and great respect for caring for older built areas, preserving their character, and giving the interplay between the buildings, the lava field and the local spirit its due importance.

• But what does this mean? In Vesturbærinn the townscape will not be changed but instead maintained and preserved. The goal is to protect against demolition and inappropriate alterations.

Valdimar Víðisson, the mayor, says the milestone is significant for Hafnarfjörður. He says that this is a clear confirmation of the town’s ambition in the preservation of older built areas. Vesturbærinn is the heart of the town, shaped by 200 years of building history, by the lava and by the people. With the protected area designation, a clear framework is established that preserves the townscape while also supporting sensible development and maintenance in good cooperation with residents and stakeholders.

Long preparation

The decision has a long background, going all the way back to 1998. The idea has developed and strengthened through the work of various working groups over the years and has now come to fruition. Numerous resident meetings were held in relation to the Vesturbær detailed land-use plan, conversations took place and presentations were held. During the working and public consultation period, the political landscape changed, as did councils and committees, but there was always the will to complete this important project. See report.

• There has been extensive consultation with residents during this time.
• The land-use plan and the protected area were developed simultaneously.
• A house survey and archaeological registration were carried out.
• Within the protected area, many houses fall under the Cultural Heritage Act.
• Houses built in 1923 and earlier are automatically protected.
• Structures from 1940 and earlier require formal review.

The protected area therefore does not place additional demands on homeowners. However, it can provide clearer rules to ensure that the environment, architectural heritage and history are passed on to future generations.

With a protected area, homeowners are not restricted or forced to make changes to their houses to return them to the past. They do, however, need to follow established rules and laws when it comes to maintenance, rebuilding or new construction. This also applies to other areas that are not under protection.

The protected area also serves to safeguard the landscape, often a particular cultural landscape.

The protected area is bounded by Vesturgata to the south and west, Hraunbrún to Garðavegur, Garðavegur, Norðurbraut to Hraunhvammur and down along the row of houses by Reykjavíkurvegur in the east.

a {
text-decoration: none;
color: #464feb;
}
tr th, tr td {
border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;
}
tr th {
background-color: #f5f5f5;
}