Early this summer constructors digging for the foundation of a new development in downtown Reykjavík came upon the fully preserved stretches of the old harbour. This archaeological find came as a surprise, as nobody had expected the old harbour quay to have been preserved fully intact. The find set further construction work on halt while authorities figured out whether the structure should be preserved or not.
Two stretches of the oldest parts of the old harbour
The structures discovered included the foundations of old warehouses, as well as large parts of two different harbour quays: One built in 1900 and a second constructed in 1928. By law the older stretch was automatically protected, while the Prime Ministry approved a last minute proposal to have the younger quay protected as well. With the two structures protected development at the site was put in jeopardy, as they ran straight through the planned underground parking garage of the buildings planned for the site.
The Icelandc National Broadcasting Service reports that now an agreement has been reached in what had threatened to become a legal battle between developers, the City and the government: The two pieces of the old harbour will be preserved fully intact within the parking garage.
A living link to the history of the city
Gísli Steinar Gíslason, the chairman of Landstólpar, which is developing the site, plans to have both structures accessible and visible within the parking garage, and that they would be visible from a pedestrian path above through a glass roof. This way this fascinating piece of history will remain be preserved and maintained as a living part of the city.
The developer plans to disassemble the quay with the help of archaeologists, complete the construction of the foundations of the buildings and build the parking garage, before re-assembling the quay again.
Early this summer constructors digging for the foundation of a new development in downtown Reykjavík came upon the fully preserved stretches of the old harbour. This archaeological find came as a surprise, as nobody had expected the old harbour quay to have been preserved fully intact. The find set further construction work on halt while authorities figured out whether the structure should be preserved or not.
Two stretches of the oldest parts of the old harbour
The structures discovered included the foundations of old warehouses, as well as large parts of two different harbour quays: One built in 1900 and a second constructed in 1928. By law the older stretch was automatically protected, while the Prime Ministry approved a last minute proposal to have the younger quay protected as well. With the two structures protected development at the site was put in jeopardy, as they ran straight through the planned underground parking garage of the buildings planned for the site.
The Icelandc National Broadcasting Service reports that now an agreement has been reached in what had threatened to become a legal battle between developers, the City and the government: The two pieces of the old harbour will be preserved fully intact within the parking garage.
A living link to the history of the city
Gísli Steinar Gíslason, the chairman of Landstólpar, which is developing the site, plans to have both structures accessible and visible within the parking garage, and that they would be visible from a pedestrian path above through a glass roof. This way this fascinating piece of history will remain be preserved and maintained as a living part of the city.
The developer plans to disassemble the quay with the help of archaeologists, complete the construction of the foundations of the buildings and build the parking garage, before re-assembling the quay again.
