Ágúst Pálsson

Ágúst Pálsson (3 October 1893 – 25 November 1967)[1] was an Icelandic architect.

His notable works include Neskirkja (built 1952–1957), which is often considered the first modern church in Iceland.[2] His design caused controversy.[3] Jónas Jónsson frá Hriflu, one of Iceland's most influential political figures, used the design of the church as a key example as to why modern architecture had no place in Iceland, and why the more traditional and Icelandic nationalist style of Guðjón Samúelsson was superior.[3] The Neskirkja Planning Committee sought out the view of renowned Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen to assess the architectural style of the building; Saarinen praised the design.[4] In 1997, several architects and experts on architecture placed Neskirkja on their list of the ten most beautiful buildings in Iceland.[5]

Pálsson designed Gljúfrasteinn, the home of Halldór Kiljan Laxness who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955.[3] The building is rare for being in the functionalist style while also being situated out in the nature.[3]

Pálsson also designed two lighthouses,[6] both built in 1946:[7] Stokksnesviti just east of the town of Höfn in south-east Iceland and Malarrifsviti south of the glacier Snæfellsjökull in the west of Iceland.