Residents in Reykjavík to receive free balcony designs under new neighborhood plan for Hlíðahverfi

In a new neighborhood plan for Hlíðahverfi in Reykjavík, residents will receive free designs for balconies on buildings that currently lack them. This initiative allows for the conversion of garages into additional apartments and opens up opportunities to construct row houses in the gardens of certain multi-family dwellings.

The zoning plan encompasses Hlíðahverfi, Háteigshverfi, and Öskjuhlíðarhverfi, with similar frameworks already established in Árbæ and Breiðholt, and others in development. The objective is to streamline application processes and alterations for residents and homeowners.

Several large construction projects are underway in the area, including developments at Heklureit and Bolholt. Historical context reveals that this isn’t the first significant disruption in the neighborhood; as recently as 80 years ago, rock was manually extracted behind the newly built Sjómannaskóli, where a gravel pitch once existed, now replaced by student apartments and office spaces.

The zoning regulations specify how building modifications can be made, such as increasing rooftop heights and adding balconies to protected houses in Háteigshverfi. Free balcony designs are included in the plan, specifically for those without existing balconies.

The future of the neighborhood may also see substantial changes if Miklabraut is constructed as an underground tunnel, extending from Skeifan to the Landspítali. This project is part of a transportation agreement valid until 2040. The changes aim to enhance living conditions and community spaces while accommodating growth and development in these residential areas.