What an exciting day!!
Today we formally presented to the municipality of Hvalfjarðarsveit our proposal to develop a 4-star landscape hotel according to the highest environmental building and operational standards. This starts the process of changing the zoning plan, a step – the municipality has already indicated – they are open too.
Little did I know about what to follow when about 2 years ago I downloaded a scientific article on Academia.edu authored by Gunnþóra Ólafsdóttir as as part of my research on nature based tourism. As I thanked her for sharing this article and told her about my project to develop a private nature retreat in Panama we started to talk about the importance of the right kind of tourism for Iceland. I was told “you should do such a project in Iceland!”
At that time, having lived in the tropics for over 25 years, Iceland was not really on my radar as you can imagine. But as we talked a little more she convinced me to have a look at it. Google is one’s friend in such cases and I was impressed by what I saw. To make a long story short, I planned a 9 day trip to Iceland in Septemer 2022, stayed for over a month and was ‘sold’.
So first of call, thank you again Gunny for drawing me to Iceland and its amazing nature and all the wonderful people I’ve met during the by now 5 visits!
In the last 2 years, I’ve been all over the Iceland, searching for the right spot. I did that in a rather unconventional way even though I was told by my lawyer and realtor…. “It doesn’t work that way! Buy something that’s actually for sale instead of looking for an owner who wants to sell.”
But perseverance paid off eventually when we found a wonderful property owned by a wonderful family. It’s both a privilege and an honour to be given the opportunity to purchase a beautiful piece of land that has been in their family for over a hundred years. It’s also brings the obligation to be the proper stewards of this land and take good care of it. And that’s what we’ll do! And Kristjana Björg Sveinsdóttir thank you for the great name suggestion for our project: Hugarró !
Thank you also Páll Ágúst Ólafsson for your help, mediation, encouragement and inspiration. We wouldn’t be here without your support, advice and friendship.
Eddy and Erick at StudioSKA, we haven’t been working together very long yet but thank you for turnng my ‘circle design’ into something more presentable and your ongoing support to make this design a reality.
And thank you Ásgeir Jónsson and Brynja Rán Egilsdóttir and other colleagues at EFLA Consulting Engineers for your guidance and putting this quality proposal for the municipality of Hvalfjarðarsveit together. I know you’ve been working late hours at night Brynja to meet the building committee deadline! Much appreciated.
And I should not forget to mention Alan and Stefanie at Petrie Hospitality. Sparring with you guys has been great and your support and trust in our vision on Hugarró is both inspiring and encouraging.
Last but not least – Carel Weyand! Thank you for your trust in my capacity to convert dreams into reality and the financial support to make it to this day.
We still have a long way to go and the level of ambition is enormous but with all the support, encouragement and kudos we are receiving I have no doubt we will get there and realize a wonderful new destination for nature lovers in beautiful Iceland. A place where people can reload their battery and enjoy the “Luxury of unwinding”.
þakka ykkur öllum !
To be continued.
Hugarró Þorvaldur Westmaas
Naturally Iceland BV
Iceland Nature Connection Ehf.
www.naturallyiceland.com – www.hugarro.com