Architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir - Iceland

Arnhildur Pálmadóttir is nominated for the Nordic Council Environment Prize 2024.

With her entrepreneurial attitude and an interdisciplinary interest Arnhildur Pálmadóttir inspires and encourages changes in urban planning, architecture and construction of buildings. In her projects she focuses on reuse of building material and sustainability of construction and future use. 

Pálmadóttir's work focuses on integrations and finding solutions with a focus on long-term use. She runs the Icelandic branch of the Danish architecture and innovation company Lendager, which specializes in sustainability and circularity in construction. She also teaches at the design department at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, she has written articles and texts related to innovation, technology and sustainability in design and construction, and she has given lectures on the subject. 

Pálmadóttir has designed buildings with half the carbon footprint of conventional buildings. She investigates the possibilities of controlling active lava flows into forms to create buildings, she uses LCA’s actively as a decision-making tool throughout the design process, designs with circularity in mind and with a focus on creating opportunities for leading a more sustainable lifestyle.