Reykjavik is a remarkable city where thoughtful design seems woven into everyday life. Everything appears to have its place. For example, even concrete stairways are equipped with bicycle channels, allowing cyclists to walk their bikes up and down with ease. With that level of urban consideration in mind, I was surprised to discover that there were no public recycling containers on the streets. So I decided to make some.
Reykjavik has long been known for having one of the highest per-capita rates of Coca-Cola consumption in the world. At the same time, much of the city's architecture is clad in corrugated metal siding, yet public recycling options for aluminum cans were notably absent. The contradiction struck me as both curious and inspiring.
The Recycling Boxes for Reykjavik project was initially well received throughout the Reykjavik 101 district and even attracted local press coverage. That enthusiasm faded somewhat once it became known that the project had been created by an American artist during a residency with SIM, The Icelandic Association of Visual Artists.
One newspaper described the work as follows:
"When walking down Laugavegur, one may notice a series of small blue houses resembling dollhouses. However, each has a roof that can be lifted, revealing that these structures are in fact garbage bins disguised as miniature homes."
The project also drew the attention of city officials. Jakob Frímann Magnússon, then Mayor of Reykjavik, noted that the bins had not been installed in consultation with either the mayor's office or the city's property division.
"Perhaps someone is responding to environmental initiatives elsewhere by adding trash cans," he remarked. "I do not wish to discourage enterprise if it proves beneficial, but as a general rule, the city should be consulted when changes are made to public streets and sidewalks."
The unexpected dialogue that followed became an important part of the work itself, highlighting questions of public space, civic participation, and who has the authority to shape the urban environment.
