mikudagur 15. mai 2019síða 46

VOLUME 5 SUMMER 2019 14 - We want to preserve the name Kioskin hjá Astu, claim the new owners of the historical kiosk in the centre of Tórshavn In the beginning of May a new building was transported into the centre of Tórshavn and placed in between the town council hall and the Faroese parliament, løgtingið. For visitors it may have seemed a bit peculiar, that a small white kiosk all of a sudden is placed into the very heart of the Faroese capital, but for the citizens of Tórshavn it was a welcomed sight, as the kiosk has been there longer than most of them can remember. The Faroese name of the kiosk is Kioskin hjá Astu, named after the former owner Asta Poulsen, who faithfully worked there every single for more than half a decade, and has it been located in the city centre since 1935. Some months ago it was moved to a warehouse on the outskirts of the capital, as it needed some repairs and a upgrade. While there it was estimated that the kiosk was in such a condition, that there was not much left that could be saved of the old kiosk. Therefore construction started on building a replica of the kiosk combined with the materials from the old kiosk, that still were of such quality, that they could be used. The reconstruction of Kioskin hjá Astu started after Faroese company Gist&Vist, which owns several restuarants and hotels in the city, purchased Kioskin hjá Astu – or the Kioskin hjá G, as some of the old people in town still call it. According to Johannes Jensen, CEO of Gist&Vist, the purpose of the reconstruction has been to preserve the kiosk exactly as people know it and to use as much of the original material as possible. He specifically mentions the beautiful and unique star ceiling in the old kiosk, which has been reused in the new kiosk. It is Petur Hans Poulsen and Martin Tórgarð, that have had the responsibility of the repair. Martin Tórgarð is the grandson of the architect H.C.W. Tórgarð, who designed the kiosk 88 years ago. To Johannes Jensen it is of the utmost importance, that the kiosk is reconstructed exactly as it was. - It is the very reason we purchased it. It was to preserve it and restore it again as an active kiosk, which offers all normal kiosk goods and papers. We will also sell coffee, the, sandwiches and other to-go food, states Johannes Jensen, who also mentions the concept of »developing without losing« – meaning that it is possible for the kiosk to fulfil its role as an icon in Tórshavn in a greater extent – but at the same time being preserved as the old Kioskin hjá Astu with as much of the original material as possible. For the citizens of Tórshavn and most likely for all Faroese people, the kiosk is a fixture in the capital and everyone recognizes the shape of it. H.C. Tórgarð designed the first model in 1931. At that time the shape of the kiosk was octagon and it had an entrance. Inside there was a dish and on the opposite site there was a shutter. The ceiling has been reconstructed and still tells the tale about the original size of the kiosk and her story. As the years have gone by the kiosk has been expanded to the shape we all know today. A shape that people hold dear. And when you walk up to the disk you can see the star ceiling by Tórgarð, which has been reused in the new kiosk. The expansion of the kiosk, which it underwent under the ownership of Asta Jacobsen, is visible, though the kiosk itself has be opened up towards the north. The red tin roof is replaced with new aluminum plates, that are compact and see through above the dish. This is the only major change in the model of the kiosk, which is visible on the outside. - We want to keep the name Kioskin hjá Astu. The range of goods will be similar to that of a café or in a kiosk, such as to- go food and drinks, both warm and cold. There is no room to enjoy the meal inside the kiosk and nothing will be produced on the spot. Everything will be delivered packed and ready to eat. Smyrjibreyðsbúðin will manage the kiosk and the employers will be connected to Smyrjibreyðsbúðin, the CEO explains. PRESERVING A HISTORICAL LANDMARK EXPLORE THE ISLANDS