Júlia Brekkan
Hafnarhólmi Bird Watching and Service Building
Wildlife
Facilities
Hafnarhólmi islet is one of the best places in Iceland to watch puffins. Here, a signature attraction has been created to attract visitors, consisting of a pathway and a staircase from the harbour to the islet and a service building by the harbour.
Cities and towns
National parks
UNESCO sites
UNESCO global geoparks
Main roads
Airports
Cruise ports
Increasing the attraction of the area
Hafnarhólmi was previously owned by a farmer who donated the land to Birdlife Iceland, Fuglavernd. Birdlife Iceland's intention is that nature conservation, ecosystem monitoring and field education about the dynamics of nature will be prominent in the long-term utilization of the area. The area lacked tourist attractions and amenities to serve visitors. Therefore, a service building and viewing platforms were constructed at the site. All construction has been carried out with the aim to protect nature and wildlife.
Design competition as a tool for design in nature
At the time, the former owner wanted to develop a bird watching facility in Borgarfjörður. On his initiative, infrastructure for bird protection and bird watching was installed at the islet. A staircase leads visitors from the harbour up to a wooden footbridge and viewing platforms. A small bird watching hut is located on top of the islet, where one can seek shelter and watch the birds. As the number of tourists increased, a design competition was held for the construction of a new service building. The competition was won by Architects Anderson & Sigurdsson.
Key facts
- Location
Hafnarhólmi, East Borgarfjordur, East-Iceland
- GPS points
N65° 32' 31.471" W13° 45' 17.318"
- Protection Framework
Birdlife Iceland is currently preparing a protection plan for the Hafnarhólmur islet
- Estimated number of visitors a year
46,810 visitors in 2019
- Low Season
- High Season
977 guests, 27 July 2019
- Project Owner
Birdlife Iceland owns 70 per cent of the land at Hafnarhólmi. The land belongs to the Municipality of Borgarfjörður Eystri, which owns the remaining 30 per cent.
- Designer
Pathways and viewing platforms were initiated by Magnús Þorsteinsson. The design of the service building was in the hands of Anderson & Sigurdsson Architects.
- Year of construction
2000 and 2020
- Materials
Painted timber
- Grants
2015: Design competition: ISK 3,000,000 2016: Local planning: ISK 13,000,000 2017: ISK 20,000,000 2018: Service building, facilities, viewing platform: ISK 76,800,000 Total of: ISK 112,800,000 from the Tourist Site Protection Fund