The Circular District is a carbon neutral development located in the Bryggjuhverfi Vestur neighborhood of Reykjavík. The district will feature the first circular building in Iceland, Vaxtarhús, providing a haven for food innovation and circular economy. Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter teamed up with consulting firm VSÓ Ráðgjöf and local architects Gríma arkitektar for the Reinventing Cities competition. Multidisciplinary teams were invited to propose a holistic and innovative new role for an industrial structure. The proposal required a solid business model and to address ambitious sustainability objectives.

Vaxtarhús is at once a community center for food innovation, an educational and commercial and a guide in sustainable urban development. The building will host an ecosystem of interconnected activities: urban farming plots, vertical vegetable production, education spaces, start-up infrastructures and a diversity of sustainable commercial offers. It addresses food innovation in a circular approach: from prototyping and production to distribution, restauration and compost treatment.

Typology
Public, Restoration ReBuild and OnBuild

Status
Invited Competition (2021) - 1.st Prize

Location
Reykjavik, Iceland

Illustrations by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter