Iceland: Högna Sigurðardóttir Anspach
Born in 1929 in Vestmannaeyjar, Westman Islands, Iceland, Högna Sigurðardóttir Anspach was the first Icelander to study at the L’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France, where she earned a diploma in architecture (c. 1949–1960), and the first woman architect to design a residential building in Iceland (1960). Sigurðardóttir Anspach co-founded an architectural firm in France in collaboration with Adrien Fainsilber, André Crespel, Jean-Pierre Humbaire, and Bernard Ropa (c. 1980s). Her design of the Bakkaflöt house (1965–1968) received international recognition with a feature in World Architecture: A Critical Mosaic, an international architectural survey of the 100 most noteworthy buildings of the twentieth century. Sigurðardóttir Anspach was named an honorary member in the Association of Iceland (2008), and received an Honorary Medal for Visual Arts by the Akureyri Art Museum (2007). The Museum of Design and Applied Arts in Iceland has her archival collection (2019-). She died in 2017 in Reykjavík, Iceland.
References
“Agent: Högna Sigurðardóttir-Anspach.” Cornell University Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 8, 2024. https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog?f%5Bagent_tesim%5D%5B%5D=H%C3%B6gna+Sigur%C3%B0ard%C3%B3ttir-Anspach&search_field=all_fields.
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“Designers in Residency – Högna Sigurðardóttir – Architectural Models.” Grapevine Events. June 15, 2022. https://events.grapevine.is/events/351.
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Guðmundsson, Brynjólfur Þór. “Högna Sigurðardóttir Has Died.” RÚV.Is. February 14, 2017. https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/hogna-sigurdardottir-latin.
Hauksdóttir, Guja Dögg. “Högna Sigurðardóttir Anspach (1929–2017).” Artforum, July 10, 2017. https://www.artforum.com/columns/guja-dogg-hauksdottir-on-hogna-sigurdardottir-anspach-1929-2017-234888/.
Sigurdardóttir-Anspach, Högna, Marja-Riitta Norri, Maija Kärkkäinen, and Suomen Rakennustaiteen Museo. Revealing the Social Content = Birting Hins Félagslega Inntaks. Helsinki: Museum of Finnish Architecture, 1992.
Ramé, Jimena. “Högna Sigurðardóttir Anspach 1929–2017.” Un Día Una Arquitecta (blog), April 4, 2019. https://undiaunaarquitecta4.wordpress.com/2019/04/04/hogna-sigurdardottir-anspach-1929-2017/.
“Högna Sigurðardóttir (Arkitekt).” Heimaslóð. Accessed March 8, 2024. https://heimaslod.is/index.php/H%C3%B6gna_Sigur%C3%B0ard%C3%B3ttir_(arkitekt).
“Högna Sigurðardóttir Arkítekt.” Vísir. November 11, 2009. Video. https://www.visir.is/k/vtv884463c8-781b-4150-9e08-dc34c769ce78.
“Högna Sigurðardóttir – Matter and Spirit in Architecture.” Reykjavík Art Museum. Accessed March 8, 2024. https://listasafn.prod.thon.is/en/exhibitions/hogna-sigurdardottir-matter-and-spirit-architecture.
“Icelandic Architect Högna Sigurðardóttir.” HJARK, January 25, 2018. https://www.huldajons.com/post/hognasigurdardttir.
“Modelmakers in Residency.” Hönnunarsafn Íslands. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.honnunarsafn.is/en/syningar/modelmakers-in-residency.
Norri, Marja-Riitta, and Suomen Rakennustaiteen Museo. 5 Masters of the North = 5 Pohjoista Mestaria. Helsinki: Museum of Finnish Architecture, 1992.
Óskarsdóttir, Halla Þórlaug. “Heimþráin Og Ljóðrænar Byggingar Högnu.” RÚV.Is. February 17, 2017. https://www.ruv.is/frettir/menning-og-daegurmal/heimthrain-og-ljodraenar-byggingar-hognu/.
Ruusuvuori, Aarno, and Suomen Rakennustaiteen Museo. Aarno Ruusuvuori : Structure Is the Key to Beauty = Järjestys on Kauneuden Avain. Helsinki: Suomen Rakennustaiteen Museo, 1992.
Saint-Pierre, Raphaëlle. Rétrospective: Hogna Sigurdardottir, moderne islandaise. AMC. March 3, 2021. https://www.amc-archi.com/photos/retrospective-hogna-sigurdardottir-moderne-islandaise,73248/hogna-sigurdardottir-anspach-a.1.
Sigurdardóttir-Anspach, Högna, Marja-Riitta Norri, Maija Kärkkäinen, and Suomen Rakennustaiteen Museo. Revealing the Social Content = Birting Hins Félagslega Inntaks. Helsinki: Museum of Finnish Architecture, 1992.
