The green giant structure in Álfabakki – what does it tell us about the administration of planning issues in Iceland?

Abstract

The term “Græna gímaldið” (e. “the green giant structure”) has been used in public debate about the construction of a commercial building at Álfabakki 2A in Reykjavík that was regularly on the news from late 2024 and into 2025, after construction had begun. The building’s size, design and use have sparked discussion about the area’s planning – the quality of planning and building design, public involvement in plan-making and the administration of planning and building matters by the City of Reykjavík.

The case crystallises familiar issues related to the administrative capacity and professional competence in spatial planning. The case, therefore, provides an opportunity to analyse, from the perspective of public administration and spatial planning, what appears to have gone wrong and what can be learned from the case; whether the case seems to be unique or whether it can be assumed that it reflects systemic weaknesses in the administration of planning matters in Iceland.

This paper addresses specific aspects of the case related to spatial planning and attempts to illuminate the above. The results reveal various weaknesses in the administration of planning matters in the case of Álfabakki 2A. Although limited research exists on the administration of planning matters in Iceland, the Álfabakki 2A case indicates systemic challenges in this area and underscores the need for reforms to regulation, policy, and planning practice.