Brekkuhvarf is a street in the Vatnsendi neighborhood of Kópavogur, by the Elliðavatn lake and 15 minutes away from downtown Reykjavík. The suburban infill project consists of eight row houses tucked into a re-divided lot with a tree density that is quite unusual for Iceland. The houses and driveway were carefully placed between the tree clusters, in a way that the tallest trees are left untouched. The vegetation creates a screen between the houses and the street, allowing for generous fenestration without compromising on privacy.
The neighborhood is a mixed bag of architectural styles and periods. Hence, the design takes inspiration from the surrounding nature and the project site, and was somewhat defined by the bucolic idea of a tree house. Materials were chosen for their organic look and feel, so that the houses blend into the vegetation and almost go unnoticed.
In order to engineer a low embodied energy building, cross laminated timber was chosen for structural walls and slabs. The resulting form is efficient and economical, and the reduced weight of the houses - in comparison to concrete for example - calls for uncomplicated sitework and foundations, so that the existing vegetation can be preserved. The houses are designed to meet BREEAM standards and run on 100% renewable electricity and geothermal heating, guaranteeing a minimal carbon footprint throughout their lifetime.
The 150m2 houses have a flexible layout where one of the bedrooms can be easily converted into a TV room or home office. Kitchen and living room have big Southeast facing windows and a high, pitched ceiling. The remaining rooms have regular height, which makes room for a small attic.
Design team: Rafael Campos de Pinho, architect.
Status: On hold since 2020.