About Kringlan - Facts and figures
About Kringlan
The Kringlan Shopping Centre is located in Reykjavik's new city centre, approximately four kilometres from the historic city area, and is a big part of life in Reykjavik. Situated nearby are the City Theatre, the State Broadcasting Service, the Commercial College of Iceland, the House of Commerce and the headquarters of a number of companies.
Kringlan adjoins the intersection of two of the main roads in the city and is within a five to ten minutes drive for 80 percent of the capital area's residents.
When Kringlan first opened its doors to the public in 1987, it represented an enormous achievement, as it was the first big shopping centre in Iceland. With 21,000 sq.m of gross leasable floor space and over 80 shops on two levels, Kringlan was an instant hit with Icelanders. The Shopping centre has become so popular that the word Kringlan is now synonymous with shopping centre in the Icelandic language.
The New Kringlan
In 1996 Kringlan began its programme of expansion by acquiring an adjoining building which for some years had attempted to emulate Kringlan's success by providing shopping floor space on two levels with parking below. The building had originally been designed as a bakery and printing works and its transformation into an attractive and viable shopping destination was complex and difficult. The mall layout was re-arranged, new tenants introduced and a multiplex cinema added.
This was a first big step but Kringlan had set its sights higher and in 1997 proposals were formulated to create an overall concept that would join the two retail buildings and link them with the City Theatre and the proposed District Library. New car parking, to be shared with the theatre and a new open square were also essential elements of the proposals.
It was essential that disruption to shopping, particularly during the busy Christmas months, was minimized and so the Link was carried out in two phases. A western wing was built during 1998 and opened for Christmas so that shoppers became familiar with its layout and attractions.
The main construction work began in January 1999. The new three level link building provides an additional 8,100 sq.m of new retail floorspace with a lifestyle anchor store on the two lower levels and a seven outlet food court and three themed restaurants on the upper level. A central climb rock rises 20 metres towards the glass roof above and a ramped walkway with a dramatically inclined glazed wall leads from the food court directly to the theatre and library. The extension was completed on time with all units rented out and ready for business on the opening day in October 1999. The new expanded Kringlan has been well received as can be seen in a 10% increase in total consumer traffic between the years 1999 and 2000.
The expansion and development of Kringlan has been a major success and a benchmark for retail design that has created a comfortable and safe environment for people of all ages. Further developments are being planned and in the near future Kringlan will become an even brighter and bigger city of shops.
Facts and figures
The Kringlan Shopping Centre is located in Reykjavik's new city centre, approximately four kilometres from the historic city area, and is a big part of life in Reykjavik. Situated nearby are the City Theatre, the State Broadcasting Service, the Commercial College of Iceland, the House of Commerce and the headquarters of a number of companies.
Kringlan adjoins the intersection of two of the main roads in the city and is within a five to ten minutes drive for 80 percent of the capital area's residents.
When Kringlan first opened its doors to the public in 1987, it represented an enormous achievement, as it was the first big shopping centre in Iceland. With 21,000 sq.m of gross leasable floor space and over 80 shops on two levels, Kringlan was an instant hit with Icelanders. The Shopping centre has become so popular that the word Kringlan is now synonymous with shopping centre in the Icelandic language.
The New Kringlan
In 1996 Kringlan began its programme of expansion by acquiring an adjoining building which for some years had attempted to emulate Kringlan's success by providing shopping floor space on two levels with parking below. The building had originally been designed as a bakery and printing works and its transformation into an attractive and viable shopping destination was complex and difficult. The mall layout was re-arranged, new tenants introduced and a multiplex cinema added.
This was a first big step but Kringlan had set its sights higher and in 1997 proposals were formulated to create an overall concept that would join the two retail buildings and link them with the City Theatre and the proposed District Library. New car parking, to be shared with the theatre and a new open square were also essential elements of the proposals.
It was essential that disruption to shopping, particularly during the busy Christmas months, was minimized and so the Link was carried out in two phases. A western wing was built during 1998 and opened for Christmas so that shoppers became familiar with its layout and attractions.
The main construction work began in January 1999. The new three level link building provides an additional 8,100 sq.m of new retail floorspace with a lifestyle anchor store on the two lower levels and a seven outlet food court and three themed restaurants on the upper level. A central climb rock rises 20 metres towards the glass roof above and a ramped walkway with a dramatically inclined glazed wall leads from the food court directly to the theatre and library. The extension was completed on time with all units rented out and ready for business on the opening day in October 1999. The new expanded Kringlan has been well received as can be seen in a 10% increase in total consumer traffic between the years 1999 and 2000.
The expansion and development of Kringlan has been a major success and a benchmark for retail design that has created a comfortable and safe environment for people of all ages. Further developments are being planned and in the near future Kringlan will become an even brighter and bigger city of shops.
Facts and figures
| Name: | REKSTRARFELAG KRINGLUNNAR |
| Address: | Kringlan 4-12, 103 Reykjavik, Iceland. |
| Size: | 50,000 sq.m. |
| Gross leaseble area: | 36,000 sq.m. In addition to that, two office towers. |
| Number of units: | 150 shops, restaurants and services. |
| Anchors: | Hagkaup department store, Útilíf, Next. |
| Car parking: | 2,060 with 600 additional spaces in the area. |
| Customers: | 6,716,733 visits per year (2007) |
| Developer: | Ltd. (former Hagkaup Ltd.) Kringlan 4-12, 103 Reykjavík, Iceland. |
| Iceland: | Inhabitants 313,376 (2008) |
| The capital area: | Inhabitants 196,564 (2008) |
| The size of the country: | 103,000 sq.km. |
| Government: | Parliamentary democracy. |
| GDP per capita, USD (2007 estimated data): |
64,180 |
| Private final consumption, USD (2003): | 6,324,000,000 |
| Cars per 1000 inhabitants (2007): | 662 |
| Cellular telephones per 1000 inhabitants (2006): |
1010 |
| Address: | Kringlan 4-12, 103 Reykjavik, Iceland. |
| Telephone: | +354 517 9000 |
| Fax: | +354 519 9010 |
| E-mail: | kringlan@kringlan.is |