COUPLING BOLUNGARVÍK DEVELOPEMENT OF THE TOWN
This catalouge is an analysis of how the town of Bolungarvík has developed in the 20. century since the arrival of the first motorized fishing boat in the town in the year 1902. The fishing town Bolungarvík is the northernmost settlement in the Westfjord region in Iceland. Bolungarvík transformed in the 20. century from being a isolated village to a flourishing town during the industrial progression between 1960-1980. The once active fishing town has today inactive areas and vacant residential & industrial buildings. The Icehouse is a disused shrimp factory, located between the residential, harbour and central area. The Icehouse once employed over 120 people and the building represents the processes and practices that helped building the culture & identity of the town in the 20. century. The future of Bolungarvík has an opportunity to redefine it´s unoccupied areas for urban activities and revitalize the Icehouse for a new use.
Thanks to: Soffía Vagnsdóttir, Guðbjartur Jónsson, Jónas Guðmundsson, Lísbet Harðardóttir Ólafardóttir, Birna Hjaltalín Pálmadóttir, Elísbet Gunnarsdóttir, Sigurður Pétursson, Stefanía Sigurðardóttir, Stefanía Birgirsdóttir, Olgeir Hávarðarson, Jakob Magnússon, Sigríður Hulda Guðbjörnsdóttir, Hulda Birna Albertsdóttir.
WEST-FJORDS REGION
REYKJAVÍK
BOLUNGARVÍK
ÍSAFJÖRÐUR
Photographs taken by Pétur Blöndal Magnason. Other photographs used with permission by Sigurður Þorleifsson, Sigríður Línberg, Aðalsteinn Bjarnason & Mats Wibe Lund. Aerial photographs used with permission from Loftmyndir ehf.
BolungarvĂk church
Bolafjall mountain
Main street Town hall
Elementary school
Bolungarvík harbour Bjarnabúð Icehouse
Breakwater
Industrial area
This is Bolungarvík, the northern most town in the West-fjord region Population: 866 Latitude: 66° 9’33.29”N Longitude: 23°14’44.76”W Bolungur: The outer layer of a driftwood that has rotten from the inside Vík: Creek, a shallow fjord Settlement dates back to 930 a.d. when Þuríður Sundafyllir, a female outlaw from Finnmark, Norway, arrived with her brother, Þjóðólfur,at the shores of Ósvör mountain. At the arrival they went each to the mountains that surround the creek and claimed their territories by fencing the ground with driftwood.
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BolungarvĂk 1920
THE DRYMLA POND
HAFNARGATA MAIN STREET
THE DRYMLA RIVER
Development of Bolungarvík in the 20. century
The Drymla pond, at the Bjarnabúð site 1949.
The Town of Bolungarvík developed and transformed fast in the 20. century. Buildings have been demolished or moved to another location in the town. Before the town started to expand in the 70’s, Bolungarvík was built between the sea-front and the river Drymla. The Drymla pond was a part of the river that ran through the town. It was located at the site of Bjarnabúð and used to be a gathering place for public holidays. Today the river runs through pipes to the ocean and the site of the pond is filled up.
Residential houses
Residential area built 1970-1990
Industry & harbour area
Breakwater
After the motor boats emerged in the early 20. century a construction of a breakwater began in 1940 in BolungarvĂk, to make a permanent harbour for ships. As the fishing vessels became larger since 1970 the breakwater has expanded to it´s size today
Shops & museums
Bjarnabúð
Bjarnabúð
Bjarnabúð convenience store
Bjarnabúð in Bolungarvík is one of the oldest store in the West Fjords. It was founded in 1927 and has been open continuously since. If you need a needle, intertwine, yarn, lamb, milk, or books, gifts, clothing you will find it there. The couple, Stefanía Birgisdóttir and Olgeir Hávarðsson, operate the store today both as a convenience store and as a museum of the former resident and store owner, Bjarni Eiríksson.
Institutions & services
Vacational houses
Vacant houses
Icehouse
former shrimp factory
Traffic
Main road entrance to the town - 8 min away from ﾃ行afjﾃｶrﾃｰur, region capital
Demographic development in Bolungarvík BOLUNGARVÍK - POPULATION Year
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
1995
2000
2005
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
740
767
685
649
704
775
978
1.266
1.179
1.077
1000
918
962
966
970
888
866
Under 18
405
358
297
242
237
240
231
204
203
Over 65
88
87
84
103
107
114
113
112
112
Total
POPULATION MOVEMENT Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Total migration
-28
-75
-28
-7
-45
-28
-11
-28
-13
-9
-9
44
-4
-87
-7
Immigration
233
175
172
209
113
139
175
153
209
206
194
197
81
49
52
Emigration
261
250
200
216
158
167
186
181
222
215
203
153
85
136
59
The fishing industry has been the main trade of Bolungarvík since settlement. Between 1970 & 1980 were very prospectful years in the industry. The population increased by 30% and in that time the residential area was expanded. The Bakkavík prawn factory was also extended with a new production building that today is the north part of the building. In 2008 was the first time that population increased since 1987 due to the construction of a tunnel between Bolungarvík and Ísafjörður, the region capital. In 2010 the population decreased severly because of the unemployment related to the bankruptcy of Icehouse shrimp factory. That same year the tunnel was opened. The depopulation can be identified with more than 30 houses that are either empty or only used as private or rented vacation house during the summertime. ,,It is rather strange. Few years ago I used to greet my neighbours when I was coming home from work. Now the curtains are closed on the windows of four houses in my street and I have to walk to the store if I only have to borrow a cup of sugar when we make pancakes.” Jónas Guðmundsson, The district commissioner in Bolungarvík 15. may 2012
Abandoned & vacational houses in BolungarvĂk
Love Week festival in BolungarvĂk
From the Love Week parade, august 2011
The annual festival, Love Week was initiated in 2003. It began as response to when the population in BolungarvĂk was at the brink to become below 1000. The locals initiated this tradition in the second week in August, with various events such as opening ceremony by releasing heart shaped balloons to the air, parade, speed dates, laughter choir, hugging course and romantic sailing in the bay. This festival has reached out from the town and attracts outcomers to visit and participate in the Love Week festival to spread love and to increase to the population in the town.
Icehouse shrimp factory
The Icehouse, shrimp factory, has been bankrupt since 2009.
The Icehouse is the biggest house in the town, positioned in between the harbour, centrum & residential area. The Icehouse is a monument symbolizing the village fishing tradition, both the succesful years and the decline. Over 120 people were employed there. The northern part of the building is in a derelict state and needs a renovation to be able to operate again. The Icehouse was centre of the village for decades and should go back to the people of bolungarvĂk as the centre.
Waterline that has shaped the town
Bolungarvﾃｭk is located on the shores of ﾃ行afjarﾃｰardjﾃｺp. The town developed along the waterlines of the ocean and the river Drymla. There are though no traces today, of the river Drymla that shaped the main street of the town.
Existing situation
RESIDENTIAL AREA CENTRAL AREA INDUSTRY AREA BREAKWATER BJARNABÚÐ SITE
Today the residential area, central area & the industrial harbour lies close to an undefined site that once was active for Bolungarvík´s economy and social life.
Inactive area
Vacant open area
Icehouse
Unused area between the Icehouse & the breakwater
The shrinking phenomenon in the West-fjords is identified on the open vacant site of Bjarnabúð. On the site is also the non-operating Icehouse not & unused area between the Icehouse & the breakwater. This area has the potential to be redefined as active area again in Bolungarvík.
Redefine the vacant area
SHORELINE
RESIDENTIAL
MAIN STREET
BREAKWATER CENTRUM
HARBOUR
The Bjarnabúð site is redefined as the center of the town with new main axis that goes through the Bjarnabúð site and break through the Icehouse and creates connection from the town to the ocean by the breakwater. Also two other axis, that connect the residential area with the central area on the Bjarnabúð site & an axis that connects the harbour-front, breakwater and the shoreline with a pedestrian path. The Drymla pond, that once was a place for social gathering is revitalized at the Bjarna Square
POND DRYMLA
OUTDOOR MARKET PLACE
Drymla pond
CENTRUM STEPS
ENTRANCE FROM THE CENTRUM & INSTRUSTIAL AREA
P
PEDESTRIAN PATH TO THE SHORE
PEDESTRIAN PATH TO THE HARBOUR
BREAKWATER VIEWPOINT
BJARNASQUARE BOLUNGARVÍK 1:500
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Transforming of the Icehouse
The old freezer in the Icehouse. Built in 1929
Extenstion of the shrimp factory
Icehouse 1929
Icehouse 1960
Extension 1940
Extension 1980
First part of the Icehouse was built in 1929 and has through the decades expanded extensively. The building represents the processes and practices that helped building the culture & identity of the town in the 20. century. The future of BolungarvĂk has an opportunity to redefine it´s unoccupied areas for urban activities and revitalize the Icehouse for a new use.
Exisiting building
A B C
A - Iron clad facade - steel beam framework. Condition: facade derelict. Not approved for food production. Considered for demolition B - Entrance / Storage / Offices / Dining hall. Concrete framework. Condition: needs maintainence C - product hall 1 - Concrete framework Condition: good - Approved for food production 8. june 2012 - Sold For small scale sea food production Evaluation of the Icehouse 2011 Icelandic regional development institute
Re-evaluate the old shrimp factory
BRAIN
HEART EYE
EXOSKELETON SHELL
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
By intervening the disfunctional Icehouse, the symbol of the shrimp factory, as an monofunctional building in BolungarvĂk, is broken and a new program is introduced. Like when peeling a shrimp before it is eaten you take away the head end, pull off the outer shell and you are left with the meat and the waste product that is thrown away. But seeing the beyond convention of what the value of a shrimp is, the animal has semitransparent texture of the exoskeleton. The waste product of the shrimp is in fact rich with enzyme called Chitosan which is derived from the shells of shrimp. For example, Chitosan is used in the food industry, cosmetics industry, pharmaceutical industry and to clean drinking water. A new method to process the shrimp could be translated for renovating the Icehouse.
Marine innovation program
Public space Education
Marine innovation - knowledge and practice The professional master’s program in Marine Innovation is an unconventional program that has been proposed by the University Centre of the Westfjords and the Innovation Centre Iceland, where students learn to make a job instead of taking one. Marine innovation is defined in a wide sense, covering everything from fisheries, aquaculture, and food production, to technical solutions and energy production, as well as tourism and culture. The program gives students insight into coastal and marine issues and the nature and conditions of starting and running an innovative micro-business. Each student designs an individually-tailored plan of study, combining courses in their professional field and business management courses with the respective innovative project. Students work closely with the Innovation Centre Iceland and the Westfjords economy.
Open the building for public access
view to the fjord
Harbour access
view to Bolafjall mountain
sea food catch
sea food product out Town access
With the Icehouse Innovation Centre the oldest part of the building preserved and continues sea food food production at a smaller scale. The derelict northern part reuses the existing structure of the building and new materiality is introduced to the old structure that can make the Icehouse reflect life and work again in the building to the BolungarvĂk. The middle part opens public access from the town to the waterfront to the building and couples the practical and theoretical part of the innovation centre.
Movement of the icehouse
CONSTRUCTION
FREEZE
FILTER SORT
STORAGE / DINING HALL PACK
BOIL
FILTER
OFFICES RECIVE
SORT PACK
FREEZE
BOIL RECIVE
FORMER PROCESS OF THE FACTORY
READING SPACE
WORK SHOPS
CLASS ROOM MEETING ROOM
CLASS ROOM
RESTAURANT BAR FILTER
CANTINE RECIVE
FREEZE
SORT PACK
BOIL RECIVE
MIXED USE OF THE ICEHOUSE INNOVATION CENTRE
The new Icehouse Innovation Centre re-interprets the history of the building with capturing the former movement of sea food production. The new Icehouse continues the process of sea food production at a smaller scale that relates to marine education program for the innovation centre. The building is also opened up for public access with various events, information center and a sea food restaurant.