Austurvöllur square in front of the house of parliament in downtown Reykjavík will undergo a major transformation as a new hotel is being constructed on its western edge. The design of the planned Icelandair hotel was revealed earlier this week. Construction of the hotel is expected to be completed in two years.
The hotel has been the focus of controversy for several years. Over 18,000 people signed a petition demanding the construction be stopped. The initial plan envisioned that a historic ballroom located in an old building on the North West corner of Austurvöllur square be torn down. In 2014 the Prime Ministry placed the ball room on the list of protected structures, ensuring it would not be destroyed by the development.
According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið the developer plans to tear down a part of the buildings on the site to make way for the 160 room hotel.
Austurvöllur square in front of the house of parliament in downtown Reykjavík will undergo a major transformation as a new hotel is being constructed on its western edge. The design of the planned Icelandair hotel was revealed earlier this week. Construction of the hotel is expected to be completed in two years.
The hotel has been the focus of controversy for several years. Over 18,000 people signed a petition demanding the construction be stopped. The initial plan envisioned that a historic ballroom located in an old building on the North West corner of Austurvöllur square be torn down. In 2014 the Prime Ministry placed the ball room on the list of protected structures, ensuring it would not be destroyed by the development.
According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið the developer plans to tear down a part of the buildings on the site to make way for the 160 room hotel.
