The Blue Ribbon of Akranes, a walk through history

Abstract: There is only one large ocean that makes up our blue marble, even though we’ve given it many different names. It’s difficult to see where one ends and another begins and change in one place has an effect elsewhere. The ocean connects us all and we are depended on its grace to provide us with life. The beach opens our way to the world and closes us off. It is a conflict zone in times of climate change and it’s where life becomes so tangible through the power of the waves and the delicateness of each shell. The sea provides us with a variety of foods, evens out the temperature on Earth and plays a key role in the water cycle. Life as we know it would not thrive without it and every other breath we take comes from the sea. Even so we often treat the ocean with litle respect, like don’t care for it nor need it. Coastal towns such as Akranes have a duty to defend these borders and make them accessible and safe for both the ocean and us who walk the land. During the last few decades Akranes has gone through rapid transitions from being dominated by industrial fishing and cement factories that have shaped the coastline and now the town stands at a crossroad, once again, to reinvent itself. This project proposes to enhance the existing attraction of the shoreline in Akranes. By connecting, activating and rebranding the shoreline the municipality would be a pioneering town in Iceland to address nature experiences, effects of climate change and connect water and land with nature-based solutions that would also serve as a platform for education by offering people a window to the magical world of these transformation areas.