Högna Sigurðardóttir facts for kids

Högna Sigurðardóttir (born July 6, 1929 – died February 10, 2017) was a very important architect from Iceland. She was the first woman ever to design a house in Iceland! Even though she was Icelandic, she spent most of her working life in France.

About Högna's Life

Högna Sigurðardóttir was born on July 6, 1929. Her hometown was a small fishing village called Vestmannaeyjar. This village is on a group of volcanic islands just south of Iceland. Early in her life, Högna decided to leave home. She wanted to study architecture in Paris, France. Later, she started her own architecture business there.

Her Education and Family

In 1949, Högna Sigurðardóttir became the first Icelander to study at the famous École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. While studying there, she met Gerhardt Anspach. He later became her husband. They had two daughters together: Sólveig Anspach, who became a film director, and Thorunn.

Designing Buildings in Iceland

After she finished her studies in 1960, Högna designed a house in the Westman Islands. This made her the first woman to design a building in Iceland! She was not the very first Icelandic woman to study architecture, though. That honor belongs to Halldóra Briem. Högna quickly became well-known in Iceland. People admired her bold architectural style. She also broke barriers in a field that was mostly men at the time.

Högna went on to design other houses. These were in Reykjavík and Kópavogur. She even designed the furniture inside these homes. She also added gardens on the roofs. This helped connect the buildings with nature around them.

The Bakkaflöt House

Högna's love for nature is clear in the house at Bakkaflöt 1 in Garðabær. This building was inspired by old Icelandic turf houses. Högna used modern methods and materials to create it. In 2000, this house was chosen as one of the 100 most important buildings of the 20th century in Northern and Central Europe. Högna's designs were, and still are, seen as very modern and daring.

Högna's Career and Style

Her Unique Style

Högna's work is known for being very strong and unique. Her style is called Modern Brutalist Architecture. She often used raw concrete in her designs. She also used natural stone, wood, and leather.

What made her work special was how she combined the building's structure with its inside. She designed everything as one whole piece. She even designed special parts like furniture and flowerpots. To honor her Icelandic background, she also included things like rooftop gardens.

Important Projects

Högna is praised for how she blended buildings with the land and space around them. She worked in Paris, but some of her most famous projects are in Iceland.

The Bakkaflöt House Details

The Bakkaflöt house (built 1965–68) is one of her most popular projects. It is considered one of the hundred most remarkable buildings of the 20th century. This house uses strong Brutalist techniques. It also uses modern concrete in a new way. At the same time, it refers to old Icelandic building traditions.

The Bakkaflöt house seems to blend into the landscape. It is on a small piece of land in Garðabær. The outside of the house is covered by artificial hills. This makes only the flat roof visible. Inside, the house centers around a main living room. This room has a large skylight and a fireplace. The house has many interesting features. These include cozy reading nooks and large glass doors that slide open. The materials like raw concrete, iron, carved wood, and leather make the space feel warm and comfortable.

Awards and Recognition

Högna Sigurðardóttir received many honors. In 2007, she was given the Honorary Medal for Visual Arts. The Akureyri Art Museum said she made a "unique lifetime contribution to Iceland architecture." They also said her buildings were "more closely linked to Icelandic landscape, nature and heritage" than other modern architects' work.

In 2008, Högna Sigurðardóttir became an honorary member of the Association of Iceland.

In 1967, Högna won first prize for a big university design. She worked with French architect Adrien Fainsilber on this project. It was for a university in Villetaneuse, near Paris. Icelandic newspapers wrote a lot about her award. This made her even more famous in Iceland.

Högna Sigurðardóttir passed away in Reykjavík.

See also

In Spanish: Högna Sigurðardóttir para niños