Project Description:

Keldur is a new urban quarter on the eastern edge of Reykjavík, designed for 10,000 residents and 5,000 workplaces. Its identity is built on a clear vision: fast, sustainable connections paired with the space to live slowly.

The neighborhood is structured as a mosaic of landscapes and communities. Each district – Forest Living, Coastside Hollows, Sunny Hills, and Creative Valley – has its own housing typologies, open spaces, and character, shaped by the surrounding forests, creeks, hills, and river. Together they form a diverse and resilient urban fabric where nature and city are inseparably linked.

Landscape and livability are at the core. Valuable natural areas are protected and expanded into an accessible network of wetlands, forests, and green corridors. Public spaces range from urban squares and community gardens to biodiversity learning parks, creating opportunities for recreation, learning, and daily encounters with nature.

Community life is fostered through mixed housing, social hubs, and shared spaces for hobbies, crafts, and local entrepreneurship. Flexible ground floors, coworking venues, microbreweries, and studios support both social interaction and small-scale economies, strengthening identity and pride at the neighborhood level.

Mobility is redefined through the Borgarlína rapid bus line, local bus routes, bike lanes, and shared mobility hubs. This integrated system ensures quick access across Reykjavík while reducing car dependency. Streets are designed as safe, multifunctional spaces that encourage walking, cycling, and play.

With a strong focus on sustainability and resilience, Keldur incorporates blue-green infrastructure, circular water systems, geothermal energy, and afforestation. Schools and kindergartens double as community centers, while flexible housing typologies adapt to changing demographics and lifestyles.

Keldur offers a new model for urban living: compact and connected, ecological and human-centered. A place where residents can move quickly through the city, yet slow down to enjoy nature, creativity, and community in everyday life.