Hávegur: að hlusta á það sem vill vaxa / Hávegur: what the gardens know by Gunndís Ýr Finnbogadóttir

At Hávegur in Kópavogur, on the north side of the street, traces of seventy years of habitation are shifting, somewhat temporarily, with new plans and construction projects aiming to densify the built environment of Digranes. In some gardens, plants are reclaiming space, while in others, hard gravel is flattening the softness of the soil to make room for building materials, parking areas, and construction machinery. The eight houses along Hávegur were built around 1949 and have stood there for over seventy years. The gardens have undergone ecological changes that have affected the life within and around them. Some trees were planted early on and have now grown tall - most notably the Sitka spruces, larches, birches, aspens, and rowans, alongside a beautifully shaped maple tree. Golden chain trees have self-seeded between gardens. Although most of the gardens are now largely unattended , traces of flower beds, lawns, and planting areas remain, as well as a single concrete pond painted blue. Signs of horticulture and the creativity of the residents, along with their interest in beautifying their surroundings for themselves and others, are still visible. In recent years, we have followed the changes in Hávegur, observing the vegetation and various life forms, documenting through photographs, diary entries, plant lists, seed collecting, and conversations. Recently, we have walked with other people along the street and between the gardens. We have gathered some of the materials we recorded and created, working towards a bookwork that marks a moment in the life cycle of these gardens - a time capsule of sorts - as well as a reflection of our thoughts and observations, woven into the gardens themselves. The gardens continue to change. Plants grow; others disappear. We move along with them and keep observing with curiosity. At Hamraborg Festival 2025 we published the artist book, and we invited guests to join us for a walk along Hávegur, to share stories and hopefully hear new ones about plants, residents, transformations, and of Hávegur´s yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Hávegur: Að hlusta á það sem vill vaxa / Hávegur: What the Garden Knows, 2025.

Artist book (50 signed editions) made in collaboration with Julie Sjöfn Gasiglia.

Heimsókn á Háveg / A visit to Hávegur, 2025.

A walk with guest of the Hamraborg Festival 2025.

by Gunndís Ýr Finnbogadóttir & Mariana Tamayo

The eight houses along Hávegur were built around 1949 and have stood there for over seventy years.

The gardens have undergone ecological changes that have affected the life within and around them. Some trees were planted early on and have now grown tall - most notably the Sitka spruces, larches, birches, aspens, and rowans, alongside a beautifully shaped maple tree. Golden chain trees have self-seeded between gardens. Although most of the gardens are now largely unattended , traces of flower beds, lawns, and planting areas remain, as well as a single concrete pond painted blue. Signs of horticulture and the creativity of the residents, along with their interest in beautifying their surroundings for themselves and others, are still visible.

In recent years, we have followed the changes in Hávegur, observing the vegetation and various life forms, documenting through photographs, diary entries, plant lists, seed collecting, and conversations.
Recently, we have walked with other people along the street and between the gardens. We have gathered some of the materials we recorded and created, working towards a bookwork that marks a moment in the life cycle of these gardens - a time capsule of sorts - as well as a reflection of our thoughts and observations, woven into the gardens themselves.

The gardens continue to change. Plants grow; others disappear. We move along with them and keep observing with curiosity.

At Hamraborg Festival 2025 we published the artist book, and we invited guests to join us for a walk along Hávegur, to share stories and hopefully hear new ones about plants, residents, transformations, and of Hávegur´s yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Mariana and Gunndís have collaborated on several teaching and research projects. Recently, their article Bodies of Water: Outdoor Sensory Learning in Local Places was published in the IMAG journal:
https://www.insea.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMAG_issue_18_final.pdf

Hávegur: Að hlusta á það sem vill vaxa / Hávegur: What the Garden Knows
© 2025 Gunndís Ýr Finnbogadóttir og Mariana Tamayo.

Design:
Julie Sjöfn Gasiglia

Print:
Risoprint at the Iceland University of the Arts.

Edtions:

Paper:
Munken Pure Rough 120g

Funded by:
Hamraborg festival and Myndstef

ISBN 978-9935-25-873-1

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