Studio Granda is a practice of

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

s based in

Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a pop ...

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...

. It was founded in 1987 by partners Margrét Harðardóttir (1959, Reykjavík, Iceland) and Steve Christer (1960, Blackfyne, UK). They studied at the

Architectural Association The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, commonly referred to as the AA, is the oldest independent school of architecture in the UK and one of the most prestigious and competitive in the world. Its wide-ranging programme ...

in London.

Architectural philosophy

Studio Granda's work is characterised by a respect for the traditional materials of

- stone, sheet metal and timber - and with their sensitive awareness of local context can be linked to the

Critical Regionalism Critical regionalism is an approach to architecture that strives to counter the placelessness and lack of identity of the International Style, but also rejects the whimsical individualism and ornamentation of Postmodern architecture. The stylings ...

school. The work might also be regarded in the light of the Nordic modernist tradition, typified by architects such as

Alvar Aalto Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (; 3 February 1898 – 11 May 1976) was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware, as well as sculptures and paintings. He never regarded himself as an artist, s ...

Erik Gunnar Asplund Erik Gunnar Asplund (22 September 1885 – 20 October 1940) was a Sweden, Swedish architect, mostly known as a key representative of Nordic Classicism of the 1920s, and during the last decade of his life as a major proponent of the modernist s ...

Sverre Fehn Sverre Fehn (14 August 1924 – 23 February 2009) was a Norwegian architect. Life Fehn was born at Kongsberg in Buskerud, Norway. He was the son of John Tryggve Fehn (1894–1981) and Sigrid Johnsen (1895–1985). He received his architect ...

, and

Jørn Utzon Jørn Oberg Utzon, , Hon. FAIA (; 9 April 191829 November 2008) was a Danish architect. He was most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia, completed in 1973. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon ...

Important works

Reykjavík City Hall (1987-1992)

Supreme Court of Iceland The Supreme Court of Iceland (, lit. ''Highest Court of Iceland'') is the final court of appeal in the judiciary of Iceland. It is also the oldest of the current courts of law in Iceland and the highest of the three Icelandic court branches, t ...

, Reykjavík (1993-1996):

Reykjavík Art Museum Reykjavik Art Museum ( is, Listasafn Reykjavíkur ; founded in 1973) is the largest visual art institution in Iceland. It occupies three locations in Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in ...

(1997-2000) Car Park, Kringlan Shopping Centre, Reykjavík (1998-1999) Bifröst Business School extension, café & quadrangle (2001-2002) Student Accommodation and research wing at Bifröst Business School (2003-2005) As well as the building projects listed above, the practice has been involved in a number of infrastructure projects in collaboration with Línuhönnun Consulting Engineers.

External links

Studio Granda website
* Architecture firms of Iceland Companies based in Reykjavík {{Iceland-company-stub