Supervisor:
Erik Fenstad Langdalen
Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is exposed to harsh climate and earthquakes. This demands high quality buildings strong enough to withstand the geologic activity. The search for a construction material that was able to withstand the Icelandic climate conditions was found in concrete in the late 19th century. Concrete soon became the most used construction material continuing to present day. However, the Icelanders were for decades still dependent on the import of the binding agent in concrete: cement. It wasn’t until after the union with Denmark was dissolved in 1944 that the Icelanders decided to build the country’s first and only cement factory in a village in West Iceland named Akranes. After centuries under foreign rule, not only did Iceland adopt a new republican constitution, but they could now build with a national construction material.
With the liquidation of cement production in 2012 and the demolition of the production department between 2017 and 2019 Iceland became reliant on import of cement again. The remains of the cement factory will be aquired by the Municipality of Akranes in 2028 and is at risk of being decomissioned. One would presume that cement production is not to be reintroduced in Iceland again, not at least in Akranes. However, importing cement from other countries is unfavorable and polluting; it should not be accepted that a country with climate conditions reliant on concrete must also be reliant on the importation of cement. Instead of searching for a suitable cultural program for the remains of cement factory, I have questioned how the material works and posit the question: what if cement production is reintroduced at Akranes Cement Factory?
1-50 physical model
Three main research questions underlie the project: how did concrete become particularly important in Iceland? - how did the cement factory operate? - how can cement production be reintroduced and celebrated by Icelanders? The first phase is theoretical. I have done a thorough research starting from the early settlers in Iceland to gain knowledge about the cultural value of cement production in Iceland. Furthermore, I have investigated the cement factory’s past, present, and future, where the latter has led me to an ongoing research project on supplementary materials to limestone in cement production. The second phase is practical and theoretical. To gain a thorough understanding of the remaining built mass of Akranes Cement Factory, I have analyzed each building individually with the help of 1-50 physical models, archival research, and site visits. Finally through an architectural project, I am proposing an alternative were both the reintroduction of cement production and the public can be united at Akranes Cement Factory. My ambition has been to intervene with minimal changes on the inherent premises and logic of the factory through adding, removing, and reprogramming.
Contact
Frida Nilsen / fridanilsen95@icloud.com / +47 98631717