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 city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

. 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 private school of architecture in the UK. The AA hosts exhibitions, lectures, symposia and publications. History The Architectura ...

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, see ...

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

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 (; 9 April 191829 November 2008) was a Danish architect. In 1957, he won an international design competition for his design of the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Utzon's revised design, which he completed in 1961, was the b ...

Important works

Reykjavík City Hall (1987-1992)

Supreme Court of Iceland The Supreme 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, the others being the District Co ...

, Reykjavík (1993-1996):

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

(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