Félagsheimilið Bolungarvík | Hans-Olav Andersen

Restoration, modification and expansion of an existing Community Centre The Community Centre in Bolungarvík was dedicated on the 14th of April 1952. The building was the first community centre that received subsidy from the newly founded “Community Centre Fund” that was established by Althingi (the Icelandic Parliament) by law in 1947. The maintainance had been lacking for a while and facility requirements changed over time. At the turn of the century the town council decided to undertake extensive maintenance of the Community Centre by restoring it and build an extension to the existing building. Also to do appropriate modifications to increase mobility access. The goal was to make maintainance minimal for the next 50 years and the management easy and efficient. The interior has been restored completely as well as exterior. Windows and roof cladding were renewed and external walls insulated from outside and replastered. Because of heavy snow in front of the old main entrance, the client requested that the new main entrance would be closer to the street. By doing that the general access to the Community Centre would be improved and also decrease the need for snow removal. The answer was a plain extension between the Community Centre and the street. The new main entrance is covered and creates a shelter from strong northerly winds. In the new extension is a lobby, toilets, cloakroom and ticket sale. In front of the old main entrance is a new dance platform with a raised stage.