At a ceremony held at Höfði today, architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir accepted the title of Reykjavík City Artist Laureate 2026.The honor recognizes an individual whose creative work stands out and leaves a lasting mark on Icelandic art — in this case, architecture.
Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir spoke about the selection of Arnhildur, whose forward-thinking approach to architecture has drawn widespread attention — particularly her work on sustainability, resource use, and the future of the construction industry.
Arnhildur’s work and research consistently explore how to design cities and buildings with a smaller environmental footprint. Arnhildur receives an engraved stone, a certificate of honor, and a cash prize.
Ideas that challenge
Arnhildur Pálmadóttir was born in Reykjavík on July 22, 1972. After earning her architecture degree from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2006, she pursued graduate studies at the prestigious IAAC (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) in Barcelona, Spain.
Arnhildur founded the architecture firm Sap arkitektar in 2018 and has long stood at the forefront of innovative thinking in architecture and planning. Her work reflects a strong aesthetic vision and professional rigor, presenting ideas that challenge audiences to rethink the relationship between people, their surroundings, and the broader community. Through her projects and research, Arnhildur has demonstrated that architecture is more than just buildings — it is a social force that shapes how we live, how we experience our surroundings, and how we envision future possibilities.
Notably, Arnhildur designed the housing cluster at Háteigsvegur 59, which won a design award from the New European Bauhaus in the circular society category this past March. The building’s design stands out for its deliberate, integrated effort to minimize its carbon footprint from the earliest stages of the design process.
Pioneering work in architecture
Arnhildur’s pioneering contributions to sustainable architecture have earned her recognition far beyond Iceland, and she has participated in international exhibits and discussions. She received the Nordic Council’s Environment Prize in 2024, and the following year, in 2025, she curated the Icelandic pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale — the first time Iceland had participated in the event.
In Venice, Arnhildur presented a bold vision through her exhibit “Lavaforming,” which explored the potential of Icelandic lava as a building material — recasting a natural force often viewed as a threat into a valuable resource. The exhibit drew widespread attention and highlighted Arnhildur’s exceptional ability to bridge innovation and sustainability.
During the ceremony, Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir called it a genuine privilege to honor Arnhildur with this title. “Arnhildur has long stood at the forefront of new thinking in architecture and planning, and her work has earned well-deserved recognition both at home and abroad,” Hildur said.
Arnhildur expressed her gratitude for the recognition, calling it a great honor. She noted her pleasure in seeing architecture held in such high regard. “I am grateful for this honor and see it as encouragement to keep asking questions, challenging conventional thinking, and participating in the conversation about the future we want to build together.”
Source: Reykjavik.is
