Located in Laugarnes, Reykjavík there is an industrial building, just over 10.000m2, originally built as a slaughterhouse for the institution SS. The construction started in 1985 but due to financial setback the company never moved its function into the building. After standing empty for few years, the Iceland University of the Arts moved into a part of the building in 1991 whereas the rest is being used as a storage. The university is set to move out of the building in upcoming years, leaving no future plans for the site. My ambition is to open the building up to the public as a centre for culture and arts and create a new meeting place with a gallery, a restaurant, a library, an auditorium and more. The goal was to create a system where the building can work as a single unit with the flexibility of being able to open and close individual spaces depending on events and activities between different days. Daylight and visual connections became important design tools in creating attractive spaces and a pleasant experience moving through the building. The new layout also allows for further development and change in function through the years.

Trees in Reykjavík gained an attention in year 2010 when the Mayor brought up the issue in a city council meeting, with the intention to replace cottonwood trees in the city center. A new topic was introduced to the scene which initiated a process within the planning system in Reykjavík. That process is studied in this paper and covers the period from April 2010 to February 2014. The purpose of this study is to explore the strategic role of urban trees in the city and the changes that have occurred during the process. The analysis is made to find out if, and then how, the status of urban trees has changed during this period of time from two perspectives. The first perspective involves an analysis of the actions, decisions and connections between main actors involved in the process, in relation to power, discourse and knowledge. The second part is an analysis of changes in discourse on urban trees in Reykjavík where the main extensions of the discourse are identified. This is a qualitative study performed first and foremost by interviews with involved actors and a thorough examination of documents and literature. The main results of the study indicate primarily that the role of urban trees has strengthened extensively during the process. Further, the discourse about urban trees in the city has expanded with new concepts and words, with new and deeper knowledge about already known factors. This new understanding and experience gained are essential when it comes to strategic planning, planting and maintaining. The actors involved in the process utilize their power according to their positions but due to a small and concentrated planning structure in Reykjavík this creates delicate conditions for both the actors and the trees. / <p>.</p>

Iceland faces problems in achieving decarbonization goals, especially regarding its transportation sector having highly car-oriented passenger transport in the capital city, Reykjavík. Therefore, there is a need to shift toward more sustainable transport modes. It is well established that private and car-centered mobility regimes impose externalities on the environment and the livability of cities. Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a recent mobility service concept that poses a promising solution to shift much of the travel demand within urban settings from private car ownership to shared mobility. This thesis aims to determine whether MaaS can function as a disincentive for private car ownership and find use in the context of Reykjavík, Iceland. Specifically, it provides an initial investigation on how influences on car ownership and use, and opinions on shared mobility services and the concept of MaaS may differ between different demographic groups. To test whether MaaS can function as a disincentive for private car ownership and use in Reykjavík, an online survey was distributed to car owners in the city. Respondents volunteered and were asked to respond to two sets of inquiries relating to perceived influences on car ownership and use, and sentiments on shared mobility and MaaS, respectively. The responses were inferentially analyzed. The results showed that in Reykjavík’s current state (i.e. public transport infrastructure and built environment), MaaS would struggle to disincentivize car ownership and be adopted city-wide. However, the younger generations are the most promising first adopters of the service. The results suggest that the city should focus on increasing urban densification and enhancing public transport. Furthermore, the results suggest that as these factors are enacted, the disincentivizing function of MaaS may become more effective. In line with this, further research should be focused on how to facilitate first adopters in their use of MaaS.

This thesis delves into the manifestations of transport poverty and time poverty in the Greater Reykjavík area, highlighting the accessibility of essential healthcare, educational, and grocery services through various transport modes - driving, public transit, cycling, and walking. Utilizing a service area analysis with network datasets in ArcGIS Pro, the study indicates some disparities in travel times experienced by different demographic groups, with a particular emphasis on the university-eligible population. The results reveal a generally high level of accessibility across the majority of the population. Driving and cycling demonstrate the greatest coverage, while public transit and walking pose significant accessibility challenges. Notably, when considering modes other than driving, universities emerge as the hardest facilities to access, leading to a substantial portion of university-eligible being the most likely to grapple with transport poverty. The findings underscore the urgency to better accommodate university students, delve deeper into disparities experienced by more vulnerable groups, such as women and foreign-born residents. Moreover, this hopefully paves the way for a more comprehensive understanding of transport and time poverty in Greater Reykjavík, ultimately aiming to guide the creation of a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable urban environment for all residents.

Efter att e-handelsandelen av detaljhandeln har ökat har en förväntad och grundläggande förändring inom detaljhandeln ägt rum. Den framtida rollen för traditionell butikshandel i den byggda miljön är oklar. Syftet med denna uppsats är att studera hur och i vilken utsträckning detaljhandelssektorn har och kommer att förändras när förutsättningar och strategier för detaljhandeln ändras. I uppsatsen undersöks också på vilket sätt stadsplanering kan användas i syfte att möta utvecklingstrender och säkra butikshandelns fortsatta verksamhet. Efter genomförandet av en teoretisk studie, granskning av två detaljhandelskärnar i Reykjavík och genomförande och analys av semistrukturerade intervjuer presenteras tio planeringsåtgärder i ett strategiskt förslag. De viktigaste resultaten visar på att butikshandeln och e-handeln har börjat knytas samman på flera sätt. I stället för att se på e-handeln som ett problem som stör status quo, bör den betraktas som en utmaning som, om korrekt hanterad, kan förvandlas till en möjlighet. Att säkerställa fortsatt stadsförnyelse, reglera balansen mellan olika typer av verksamheter samt att uppmuntra till kreativ användning av stadens lokaler och platser är bland resultaten i det strategiska förslaget. Även i en tid av sociala medier, artificiell intelligens och det till synes oändliga flödet av information, kvarstår behovet av social kontakt – kanske viktigare nu än någonsin. / A foreseen fundamental change in retail following increased e-commerce share of retail sales has begun. The future role of traditional brick-and-mortar retail in the built environment is unclear. The aim of this thesis is to study how and to what extent the retail sector has and will change, in times of transforming retail practices, and by which means urban planning can be used for responding to the trend in order to ensure and sustain continued operations of brick-and-mortar retail. After carrying out a theoretical study, examining two retail cores in Reykjavík and conducting and analysing semi-structured interviews, ten planning actions are presented in a strategic proposal. The main findings suggest that brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce have begun to merge in several ways. Rather than looking at e-commerce as a problem disturbing the status quo, it should be seen as a challenge that can be turned into an opportunity if handled appropriately. Ensuring ongoing urban regeneration, regulating moderate balance between operations and encouraging creative placemaking are among results listed in the strategic proposal. Even in the age of social media, artificial intelligence and the seemingly endless flow of information, the need of social contact remains – perhaps more important now than ever.

In my diploma thesis I deal with the perception of the modern zoological gardens by observing visitor behavior. The thesis captures the emergence of zoos in Europe in the late 18th and 19th century gardens and their role as a source of knowledge and as a representation of the relationship between man and animal. Based on the observations of visitors I present two European zoological gardens - Prague Zoo and Reykjavík Zoo & Family Park - as spaces reflecting a certain culture. Reykjavík as a place with a simple mission dedicated for the education of small children in several fields, not only in zoology, and Prague as a complex universe, a merge of several different places with different meanings, such as a place for education, relaxation, photographing, standing against the contemporary western critical theories of zoological gardens. Key words: Zoological gardens, visitors, animals, humans, culture, looking at animals, behavior of visitors, Reykjavík, Prague, Iceland