International Symposium on Mitigative Measures against Snow ...

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> on Mitigative Measures against Snow Avalanches
Egilsstaðir, Iceland, March 11–14, 2008
has been started which in decades to come will see the natural vegetation of the area reclaimed
and inhabit the mountainside once again.
It is concluded that it is necessary to work with the formation of the avalanche structures and
to visualize them before the construction take place. It is not the main thing to minimize that
structure but more crucial to blend it into the surroundings. That is done by mimicking natural
forms that are found in the surrounding natural settings and by using natural local materials.
Every place has its character and landscape architects do their best to retain that character.
“Stóri boli” deflecting dam in winter – A well designed extension of the mountain to protect the
nearby village of Siglufjörður. This dam has already deflected several avalanches away from the
settlement.
Local communities are often more willing to accept large scale projects and changes like this
if they get more out of it than an isolated defence structure, built to follow the “Act on
Protective Measures Against Avalanches and Landslides”, even if it is present for their own
safety as an act to increase their own safety. It is necessary to rethink the environmental
hazard as a place of opportunities.
Vilhjálmsson and Ingþórsson 199