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REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxa Bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the
world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a population of around 123,300 (and over 216,940 in the Capital Region), it is the heart of Iceland's
cultural, economic and governmental activity, and is a popular tourist destination.
Reykjavík is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland, which, according to Ingólfur Arnarson, was established in AD 874. Until the
19th century, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was founded in 1786 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the following
decades, as it transformed into a regional and later national centre of commerce, population, and governmental activities. It is among the cleanest, greenest,
and safest cities in the world
Icelandic turf houses (Icelandic: torfbæir) were the product of a difficult climate, offering superior insulation compared to buildings solely made of wood or
stone, and the relative difficulty in obtaining other construction materials in sufficient quantities.
30% of Iceland was forested when it was settled, mostly with birch. Oak was the preferred timber for building Norse halls in Scandinavia, but native birch had to
serve as the primary framing material on the remote island. However, Iceland did have a large amount of turf that was suitable for construction. Some
structures in Norway had turf roofs, so the notion of using this as a building material was not alien to many settlers.
The common Icelandic turf house would have a large foundation made of flat stones; upon this was built a wooden frame which would hold the load of the turf.
The turf would then be fitted around the frame in blocks often with a second layer, or in the more fashionable herringbone style. The only external wood would
be the doorway which would often be decorative; the doorway would lead into the hall which would commonly have a great fire. The floor of a turf house could be
covered with wood, stone or earth depending on the purpose of the building. They also contain grass on their roofs.

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