The book: PLANNING IN ICELAND
FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO PRESENT TIMES
By Trausti Valsson, Professor of Planning, at the University
of Iceland. Reykjavik 2003.
The Preface of the book, written by Sir Peter Hall:
Trausti Valsson has achieved an extraordinary feat of scholarship: he has written the comprehensive, definitive, encyclopedic account of planning in one European country, from the beginnings to the present day. True, Iceland is a small country in terms of population, even though respectably large in area. But that area contains huge variations - in position, in terrain, in natural resources - and Icelandic economic and social development is as sharply differentiated in economic terms as that of other European countries. Because however the country is so distinctive in its relative geographical isolation, it has developed in quite special ways, though culturally part of the Scandinavian or Nordic group as its strong planning traditions reflect.
Until now, all too little was known of this rich history. That is now definitively remedied. Trausti Valsson not only tells the story in rich detail, from the earliest origins of planning to the present day; he also sets it firmly within a rich geographical and historical context, so that in important respects this is a definitive general history of the development of social policy in a very distinctive Northern European country, with a distinguished story of positive intervention in social matters. Little known outside its homeland, this story needed to be written, and it has found an exceptionally able chronicler.
Thorough in its research, comprehensive in its scope, always highly readable, Trausti Valsson's book sets a new standard in historical scholarship and provides a model for other scholars in other countries to follow.
Professor Sir Peter Hall
Institute of Community Studies
A brief description of the book:
PLANNING IN ICELAND
FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO PRESENT TIMES
This book gives an overview of the development of settlements and urban
areas in Iceland from its first settlement in 874 to present times. Iceland,
being an island with a well-documented history, can be seen as a study
in miniature on how human habitat evolves and changes in an interplay
with the forces of nature.
As Iceland remains small and sparsely populated, it is eminently suitable for studying how the various aspects of society, nature and planning interact. Until the advent of this book the story of planning in Iceland has been unknown to the world. Iceland is here a case study of the history, processes and difficulties encountered in planning, and scholars and students may find the book a good base for further study. The 1250 maps and pictures, and countless references, make it highly useful for such purposes.
Because of recent developments, Iceland may be most interesting because of what it has not yet become: The economy is booming and there is an abundance of hydro- and geothermal energy. The clean air and water and vast unbuilt spaces also provide exciting possibilities, especially with a warming global climate.
The capital, Reykjavík, is of interest to many, not least because of is energetic young population. The book provides a good insight into Reykjavík and its development. Because of its wide scope the book gives a rare overview of how a human community has evolved in history and where it is headed in the future.
TRAUSTI VALSSON'S SHORT CV:
Studied architecture and planning at TU Berlin 1967-72. Worked at the
Reykjavík Development and Planning Office, e.g., on the "Green
Revolution" and the Master Plan of Reykjavík's future areas.
Valsson finished his Ph.D. in Environmental Planning at UC Berkeley in
1987 with his thesis: A Theory of Integration. A part- time position at
the University of Iceland in 1988. The first Professor of Planning at
the University in 2000. Valsson has written a great number of articles
and books, this being the eleventh. One other book has been published
in English: City and Nature, in 2000. Valsson has won several prizes for
design and planning and received a number of grants and awards.
PLANNING IN ICELAND
FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO PRESENT TIMES
is published by UNIVERSITY OF
ICELAND PRESS
e-mail hu@hi.is Available by e-mail for
USD 78,-