Icelandic Design Awards 2025 Winners Announced

Elja Mountain bike wins Product of the year, Elliðaárstöð wins Place of the year and Fischersund wins Project of the year. Albína Thordarson architect wins Honorary Award and Náttúruverndarstofnun was awarded for best investment in design.

Elja Product of the year

Elja by Lauf Cycles is a full-suspension mountain bike that uniquely combines the characteristics of a mountain bike, a racing bike, and an urban commute, merging performance, versatility, and everyday usability in one design. In Elja, design, advanced engineering, user-centered thinking, and sustainable craftsmanship converge. The technology behind it delivers a uniquely fluid off-road experience while expanding the potential for year-round, eco-friendly mobility. Distinctive in both its design and technology, Elja stands out internationally for its precision, performance, and uncompromising aesthetic.

Elliðaárstöð Place of the Year
Elliðaárstöð in Elliðaárdalur offers a variety of spaces and experiences designed by the multidisciplinary design studio Terta in collaboration with Landslag. The revitalization of Elliðaárstöð has been remarkably successful, bringing the area to life while educating visitors and preserving its cultural and historical value. The site’s layered story is revealed with care, precision, and a sense of play. What was once a disused industrial zone has now become a lively hub for culture, education, innovation, art, play, and sport. Today, Elliðaárstöð stands as a nourishing place that fills visitors with both joy and energy.

Fischersund Project of the Year
Fischersund speaks to all the senses through fragrance, music, and visual art. Since its founding, Fischersund’s sensory world has expanded and deepened, growing alongside an ever-evolving body of work and collection of creations. Fischersund is a multisensory world, an ecosystem where design and art intertwine as a unified process, where perception itself becomes the material and experience the final creation.

Albína Thordarson Honorary Award
Albína Thordarson, architect, receives the Honorary Award of the Icelandic Design Awards 2025 for her outstanding contribution to architecture. She has established herself as one of Iceland’s foremost architects. Not only has she designed and shaped numerous significant works, but her impact on the profession, particularly in advancing the position of women within it, has been profound. With deep roots in architecture, coupled with perseverance and professionalism, Albína H. Thordarson stands as a role model and influential figure in Icelandic architectural history, a pioneering woman whose work continues to shape our built environment and society. Her life’s work stands as a powerful testament to the enduring value of architecture that serves people, community, and culture for generations to come.

Nature Conservation Agency receives recognition for best investment in design

The Nature Conservation Agency receives recognition for best investment in design at the Icelandic Design Awards 2025 for its exceptional approach to developing Visitor Centres with a strong focus on design and architecture.