Klaksvik City Center
Klaksvik, Islas Faroe

Klaksvik City Center

Project Type: Master Plan Competition
Project Status: Planned
Completion Date: April 2012
Site Area: 60 acres
Team: PlusUrbia (lead) + Castillo Arquitectos
Client: Klaksvik Municipality

KLAKSVIK – CURRENT CONDITIONS:
Klaksvik – a town rich in cultural heritage, natural resources, and history – is experiencing an increasing need for a center that re-defines Klaksvik as an important enclave true to its history and culture, while enhancing its seafaring legacy and rebranding itself as a forward-thinking town that becomes an iconic anchor for the Faroe Islands.

INTERVENTION – THE FUTURE:
Nexus building – the natural evolution.
CRUX
This proposal seamlessly extends the existing fabric of Klaksvik while introducing new building typologies based on those found in other Faroese cities. The intervention creates a well-defined urban center that incorporates the highest values and enhances community life. Creating a well-choreographed sequence of spaces and buildings weaves civic, residential, and commercial uses into a rich assembly designed to house various venues: from the casual visit to music and movie festivals.
CLIMATE + ENVIRONMENT
The design responds to climatic and environmental concerns in order to maintain the center active throughout the year. Site and climate-responsive building frontages, streets and courts are planned as intimate public spaces that can be enjoyed during the summer months. In addition, a secondary mobility system of continuous enclosed galleries and operable arcades is intended to provide a sheltered, walkable environment during the wintertime.
Building volumes and heights are designed to enhance views and maximize sunlight exposure based on the low sun angles. Similarly, the interlocking building blocks’ orientation and placement shelters the intervention from prevailing winds by interrupting their natural path, thus protecting the center from strong, direct ocean winds.
PROPOSAL
New Klaksvik Center becomes the new nexus of the city that makes use of the natural placement, commercial uses and civic venues to create a vibrant enclave organized around the main element that makes Faroese culture, life and history special: a continuous and direct relationship to water and to the surrounding landscape.
KEY CONCEPTS + DESIGN PROCESS        
Compactedness | Densification | Tradition | Water Ways | Diversity + Interest | Choreographed Views | Memorable Places | Wind-Walls | Summer/Winter Mobility

In collaboration with Castillo Arquitectos.