Ágúst Pálsson

Ágúst Pálsson (3 October 1893 - 25 November 1967)[1] was an Icelandic architect.

His notable works include Neskirkja (built 1952-1957), which is often considered the first modern church in Iceland.[2] His design caused controversy.[3] Jónas Jónsson frá Hriflu, one of Iceland's most influential political figures, used the design of the church as a key example as to why modern architecture had no place in Iceland, and why the more traditional and Icelandic nationalist style of Guðjón Samúelsson was superior.[3] The Neskirkja Planning Committee sought out the view of renowned Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen to assess the architectural style of the building; Saarinen praised the design.[4] In 1997, several architects and experts on architecture placed Neskirkja on their list of the ten most beautiful buildings in Iceland.[5]

Pálsson designed Gljúfrasteinn, the home of Halldór Kiljan Laxness who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955.[3] The building is rare for being in the functionalist style while also being situated out in the nature.[3]

Pálsson also designed two lighthouses,[6] both built in 1946:[7] Stokksnesviti just east of the town of Höfn in south-east Iceland and Malarrifsviti south of the glacier Snæfellsjökull in the west of Iceland.

References
  1. Ágúst Pálsson ARKITEKT, Morgunblaðið, 30 November 1967, p. 22
  2. Tímamótakirkja á tímamótum!, Morgunblaðið, 31 March 2007, p. 27
  3. Steinsteypuöldin, retrieved 2017-01-18
  4. Neskirkja, Morgunblaðið, 6 April 1945, p. 10
  5. "LEITIN AÐ FEGURSTU HÚSUM Á ÍSLANDI". www.mbl.is. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  6. "VITAHÖNNUN ÍSLENSKRA ARKITEKTA | Arkitektafélag Íslands". ai.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  7. Íslenskir vitar, Sjómannablaðið Víkingur, 1 May 1987, p. 191
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