Reykjavik considers Herkastalinn expansion, sets conditions

Reykjavik’s planning official has responded positively to plans to add an elevator and stairwell to Herkastalinn, a historic building at Kirkjustræti 2, but says several issues must be resolved first, mbl.is reports.

The proposal, submitted by Lognfossar ehf., would add a new stairwell and elevator at the rear of the building, with a new main entrance from Tjarnargata. The aim is to provide access to every floor. The application included preliminary design drawings.

Built in 1916 for the Salvation Army to designs by Einar Erlendsson, the concrete building was expanded in 1929 and now covers 1,405 square metres. Reykjavik’s planning office describes it as a historically significant landmark.

A planning project manager said the proposal had considerable merit and was an interesting contribution to the development of protected buildings. It also fits the Reykjavik 2040 master plan’s policies on heritage conservation and changes to older buildings.

However, the proposal does not comply with the current detailed development plan, which does not permit alterations to the building. Before the city can examine it further, the applicant must address issues including escape routes, waste management, deliveries, conservation and the impact on the building’s appearance. The extension’s final design must also be specified and secured through a detailed development plan.

The planning official raised no objection to further developing the design once those issues are resolved and the building’s appearance is established. The property owner could then prepare an amendment to the detailed plan at their own expense. The official reserved the right to make further comments as the case progresses.

The Salvation Army sold the building and moved to new headquarters at Suðurlandsbraut 22 in 2022. A Vietnamese family later bought it and converted it into a guesthouse. It made the news when police began investigating a human-trafficking case referred to as the Quang Lé case. In 2025, real estate company Bergey bought Herkastalinn at auction for 865 million Icelandic krónur.