Hulda Guðjónsdóttir

s. 00354 6920596

hulda.gudjonsdottir @gmail.com

portfolio:

b.arch - aarhus school of architecture 2010

Context is one of the ultimate design parameters; and despite the lack of monumental architecture in Hanstholm, a modest fishing town by the northwest coast of Denmark, the surroundings played a main part in shaping this project. The site is situated by an impressive trail that leads from Hanstholm to the neighboring village, along the extensive North Sea. In immediate distance old German bunkers from World War II are lying around in the surface of the water. It is precisely this situation; the austere war relics, the ever-blowing wind and the relentless Northern Sea, constantly shaping the harsh but delicate landscape that were the biggest inspiration.

The scheme proposes a small, secluded community with around ten ateliers/ apartments for temporary inhabitance, along with a small center with a little café and a gallery. The center also houses a small lecture/performance space and an underground recording studio.

6. semester - bachelor project:

extreme housing / artists’ colony in hanstholm

Thus the artists can exhibit their work or put on little happenings for the guests of the Café. The apartments seem to be randomly spread around the site, but are in fact, as the bunkers, carefully placed in regard to the terrain and the forces of nature. The outer form of the buildings is also taken from the bunkers; rough and carefully protruding from the earth, but a shiny and sparkling effect is added, giving the complex a hidden treasure feel. The rough/lustrous effect is enhanced by triangular shapes and a careful mix of materials, like glass and metal.

The inner form is dictated by the surrounding terrain and the functions inhabiting each space. Inspired caves and tunnels, the rooms are not separated by walls in the normal sense but dug out from the main space, creating privacy with nooks and corners as well as random and exciting spaces contributing to the alien atmosphere of the dwellings.

the gallery emerges prominently from the ground while the auditorium rests discreetly underground to it’s left

hanstholm coastline

bunkers uncovered by the relentless North Sea

an old bunker dug into the dunes

terrain implantation

tectonics

natural lighting

site plan

existing paths

new paths

plan 1:400

auditorium

AA

auditoriumauditoriumauditoriumauditorium

café

kitchengallery

commonworkshop

host workshop

host apartment

section A-A 1:250

recording studio

café

gallery

north elevation 1:250

the entrance to the culture center

south elevation 1:250

vehicular access

the gallery with a look out to the seaa view to the café from the gallery

a view to the café from the gallery

section 1:250

north elevation 1:250 the atelier

living area

the ateliers nested against the hillside

plan 1:250

5th semester:

scenes/revitalization of langenæs

Langenæs is a relatively small neighborhood right outside the center of Aarhus. A circle of modernistic buildings, up to 15 stories high, surrounding an open green area, it was built in the 50’s when mass production and machine aesthetics prevailed.

The use of automobiles was glorifi ed and as a result Langenæs, is cut off from its neighboring areas by highways on three sides, impeding the fl ow of pedestrian traffi c into the area. The fourth side, facing the beautiful Aarhus River Valley, is also sadly cut off by the railway.

Despite its proximity to the city center, the area has a very suburban feel, composed predominantly of apartment buildings, with little commercial space. Due to housing association rules in the area, the percentage of senior citizen inhabitants it is unusually high, contributing to an even quieter atmosphere.

The goal of this project is to better connect Langenæs with it’s surroundings, both physically, with an enhanced network of pedestrian paths, as well as on the activity level, by establishing an attraction to get some circulation into the neighborhood.

By opening up the green area for a better fl ow around it, building a bridge over the railway in the southeast corner of the site and introduce a clear main path, stretching from the bridge to northeast across the entire vast green space,the area has the potential to become an important link for bicycle and pedestrian traffi c.

Furthermore, by placing an attraction, that fi ts the needs of Langenæs’ inhabitants on the open fi eld. People will be drawn down from the apartment blocks and into the fi eld, creating an active life and social encounters in the park.

The fi nal result is a ca. 2000 m2 building, inspired by modernism in aesthetics and function, housing a café/bistro, seminar rooms and lecture halls, a gym, and a spa on the top fl oor with a view over all of Aarhus, which can be enjoyed to the fullest on the roof top terrace above.

the center seen from the pedestrian bridge over the railway

site connections

the existing path-network is fragmentedthe major directions of the site the improvement of pedestrian traffi c

a a

b

b

site plan 1:5000

site section 1:5000

ground fl oor plan 1:500

form generation: stack - split - twist

section 1:250southwest facade

third fl oor plan 1:500

the path to the center

a new center

the spa

the balcony with access to the roof terrace

the atrium

lounge bar on the second fl oor

the steambath

new attractions

2nd semester:

context / a café on a hidden square

Telefontorvet is a little, tucked away square in the cen-tre of Århus. Located right be- hind the main shopping street, Strøget, with a busy bus stop to its other side and a parking lot to the third, it is quite a busy thor-oughfare with people walking by it at all times. Some-how though, no one ever seems to occupy it.

The explanation is simple; the square suff ers from a quite common architectural syndrome called SLOAP, or Space Left Over After Planning. The proximity to the main street doesn’t seem to have caused some of the “glamour” to rub off on the little square; on the contrary, it has been used as a dumping ground and an access road for the main street shops.

In recent years, a part of the square has been renovat-ed with the building of a new apartment building and another commercial one by its side. But the new half of the square doesn’t fi t very well to the old one, which still consists of shop backyards.

Wanting to bring two halves of the square together and get someone to occupy the square, I designed a cosy little café up against the backside of the main street, and thereby covering the unsightly backyards.

By using brick; the material from the old side, and glass from the new side, together with references to classical architecture, I try to tie up loose architectural ends, and with the set-up of the Café to make it a pleasant place for people to stop and linger, whether it be for a quick cup of coff ee and a sandwich to go from the café’s ground fl oor, or for a long chat with an old friend and many refi lls by the fi replace in the upper fl oor lounge.

concept modelsite studies

upper fl oorground fl oor

siteplan

west 1:250

section A-A 1:250

site plan

2nd semester:

function / a cottage for one

The program prescribed a little cottage for an individ-ual on an undefi ned site by the sea, at the edge of the woods. Within 40 m2, all his or her basic needs, such as feeding, bathing and sleeping should be accommo-dated, as well as facilities for hobbies such as cycling and meditating.

I wanted the cottage to hold only the simplest necessities and be in close contact with the nature sur-rounding it, giving its inhabitants the feeling that they are on a camping trip, with the trees at an arms lenght.

The camping caravan served as a convenient model; a densely packed functional unit for private activities, and a communal space only loosely defi ned by an ephemeral fence or awning.

These two diff erent parts of the program were divided between two boxes, one closed and rigid, the other open and more detached. The glass walls under the tent like roof open up completely to the nature, con-verting the living area into an open air terrace.

The inclination of the roof makes space for a bed loft on top of the private box. From the loft leads a small balcony, looking to the sea, perfect for early morning meditation. As for the cycling facilities, a small shed is fi tted under the eastern lowest corner of the roof, for storing the bike and it’s accessories.

Plan 1:200section A-A 1:200

south 1:200west 1:200