64°07′N · 21°58′W · Reykjavík, Iceland
Skerjafjörður
Ocean Village
A complete bay landfill transforming the shallow tidal waters of Skerjafjörður into a world-class ocean village — 375 hectares of new city, a grand canal marina, and a new urban borough for the Reykjavík Capital Region.
The Vision
A New Borough
Born from the Sea
Skerjafjörður Ocean Village is conceived as a complete bay landfill — not a discrete island, but a continuous extension of the mainland. By filling the shallow tidal waters between Reykjavík, Kópavogur, and the Álftanes peninsula, the project creates a seamless new urban borough of 375 hectares.
The centrepiece is a dual maritime system: a vast Outer Harbour Basinenclosed by stone breakwaters, and a 2-kilometre Grand Canal running through the heart of the new district. Together they provide over 1,100 berths for recreational vessels, fishing boats, superyachts, and regional ferries.
Inspired by Copenhagen's Lynetteholm and the great Nordic harbour cities, the village is designed to be transit-first, ecologically responsible, and deeply connected to Iceland's maritime heritage.
Urban Structure
Six Districts,
One Coherent City
North District
High-Density Extension
A seamless continuation of the existing New Skerjafjörður development. 4–6 storey mixed-use perimeter blocks with wind-buffering courtyard designs and ground-floor retail.
Civic & Cultural Core
Maritime Museum · Sea-Bath
The cultural heart of the new borough. A Maritime Museum, community centre, and a flagship geothermal sea-bath complex utilising Reykjavík's abundant geothermal energy.
Ocean Front
South-West District
Terraced housing stepping down towards a rugged coastal park. Rock armour and wave-breaking geometries protect the Atlantic-facing edge from Faxaflói storms.
Kópavogur Link
South-East District
Medium-density family housing bridging the new landfill with the existing urban fabric of Kópavogur and Garðabær. Schools, parks, and local amenities.
Ecological Wetland
Compensation Zone
An engineered wetland along the southern perimeter recreating the lost eelgrass beds and mudflat habitats of the original IBA-designated Skerjafjörður bay.
Borgarlína Corridor
BRT Transit Spine
A dedicated Bus Rapid Transit corridor running the full length of the district, connecting Reykjavík city centre directly to Garðabær and Hafnarfjörður.
Maritime Infrastructure
The Expanded Marina
Outer Harbour Basin
A deep-water sheltered basin enclosed by two heavy stone breakwaters, facing the open Faxaflói bay. Dedicated quays for commercial fishing and large vessels.
Grand Canal Marina
A 100m wide, 2km long engineered waterway running north to south. Floating pontoon jetties with full shore power, water, and WiFi.
Marina Village
The commercial heart of the maritime district. Full boatyard services, a chandlery, seafood market, waterfront restaurants, and a sailing club.
The Grand Canal
2 kilometres of waterfront promenade, inspired by the great Nordic harbour cities.
Masterplan
Conceptual Site Plan
The complete bay landfill connects Reykjavík and Kópavogur to the Álftanes peninsula, replacing the shallow tidal bay with a contiguous urban fabric anchored by the Outer Harbour Basin and the Grand Canal.
International Precedent
Compared to
Lynetteholm, Copenhagen
Lynetteholm is the most comparable landfill project in Scandinavia. Skerjafjörður is larger in area but requires proportionally less fill volume, thanks to the exceptionally shallow nature of the bay.
| Parameter | Lynetteholm | Skerjafjörður |
|---|---|---|
| Total Reclaimed Area | 275 ha (2.75 km²) | ~375 ha (3.75 km²) |
| Planned Residents | 35,000 | 40,000–50,000 |
| Dwellings | ~17,500 | ~22,500 |
| Fill Volume | ~40 million m³ | ~50 million m³ |
| Avg. Water Depth | ~10 m | ~3 m (shallow bay) |
| Primary Driver | Climate defense + Housing | Housing + Connectivity |
| Public Transit | M4 Metro Extension | Borgarlína BRT |
Environmental Responsibility
Ecological
Compensation
Skerjafjörður is currently an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), supporting critical foraging habitat for brant geese and red knots through its eelgrass beds and tidal mudflats.
The masterplan mandates a large Engineered Wetland and Bio-Reef system along the southern perimeter — recreating shallow tidal conditions, transplanting eelgrass meadows, and establishing protected bird sanctuaries to maintain the region's ecological carrying capacity.
City Plan · April 2026
A Vision for
the Capital Region
The Skerjafjörður Ocean Village city plan is a conceptual masterplan exploring the potential of complete bay landfill as a tool for urban expansion in Reykjavík. Produced by Manus AI, April 2026.