The innovator of ALDIN Biodome is Hjördís Sigurðardóttir, CEO
“I’m driven by a passion for creating a healthier future. I was raised in the Icelandic countryside, but have lived in many places, home and abroad. I can vividly remember the magical springtime evenings of my youth when my mother stayed up late to tend to her garden. I can still remember the smell, the beauty and taste of freshly picked carrots and turnips that I ate straight from the soil. I have always used nature to find peace and invigoration. I love plants and I dream about owning a greenhouse.
I lived in Holland for three years, from 2010-2013, where I was doing my masters in landscape architecture and planning at Wageningen University and I am a certified urban planner. I am a single mother, and I settled there with my four children while I was studying. It was an informative time for me, both in relation to my studies but also in regards to learning about a new country and culture and gaining a fresh perspective on my own country. My vision became clear regarding the opportunities our green energy provides in Iceland and the challenges we face regarding weather conditions, lifestyle and sustainability.
I have a B.S. degree in food science and environmental planning and my MSc thesis was about combining the two fields through study on urban agriculture. It was while writing my thesis that the idea for ALDIN Biodome came to life and it has since its conception developed and matured. Sustainable planning, reducing transport of fresh food and the concept of circulation where everything is re-used was a guideline throughout my studies in addition to creating an environment that promotes joyful and healthy lifestyles.
I worked for over a year in a design studio office mostly on projects involving planning and environmental analysis.
One thing led to another and I started working on ALDIN Biodome in late 2014. I applied to the business accelerator Startup Reykjavík in 2015 and my company; Spor í sandinn was accepted got in. It was there I got to know the key people working on the project still to this day. We initiated a conversation with Reykjavík city about a location for the project and it got a positive, conditional promise for Stekkjarbakki in autumn of 2016. Formal planning between the city of Reykjavík and Landslag landscape architects started in early 2017.
The project got a special award for exceptional innovation and social capacity building (EUWIIN/GWIIN) and was nominated for a European innovation award by the same organization. Partially as a result of that we started collaborating with WilkinsonEyre Architects in London which are leading in designing climate-controlled buildings. In addition to that we have an outstanding team of advisors. Both the building and operations of ALDINAldin Biodome follow strict standards about properties concerning sustainability and wellness (BREEAM and WELL)
Numerous workshops and meetings have been held with stakeholders and collaborators over the past years. In the development phase of the concept we have listened and responded well to criticism and made adjustments accordingly. An important milestone was reached when we made an agreement with the city of Reykjavík on July 4th. At that time it was four years since the conception of the idea and two and a half years since the site planning process started.
We aim to start construction in 2020 and for ALDIN Biodome to open its doors to the public two and a half years later.”
