Solheimar is an Eco village located in the southwestern part of Iceland. Founded by Sesselja Sigmundsdottir in 1930. This remote community houses 100 people. The village is home to many people with special needs and focuses on maximising the potential of each individual. Also many volunteers arrive from all over the world to give their time to help the community. Solheimar has established many workshops in the village that are closely connected and work with each other. The main workshops are the Sunna (greenhouse), the Olur (forestry), herbal soap factory, art workshop, wood workshop, weaving factory and the bakery. The series of work portrays the bond between nature and the residents and aims to understand the basis of this community.
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Jon (89) enjoys a week one of Solheimar's house. 

The house was built by Kola, Jon's best friend. Kola claims that she is a "professional beggar" in order to help terminally ill people.

The Guest house welcomes elderly people and secures a relaxing holiday for a week free of charge.


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Girl in the pool.

Children from the neighbouring households and farms are regular visitors of Solheimar's geo thermally heated pool.

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Leifur -  one of the resident of Solheimar.

He works for the forestry workshop.

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Olur- The forestry- in Solheimar. 

The workshop planted many trees in and around Solheimar.

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Reynir Petur - one of the oldest resident of the community.

In 1985 he decided to walk around Iceland, in order to raise awareness to the topic of disabled people.

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Arno (21) volunteers for the Sunna -Organic Certificate Green house

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The Sunna is heated by Geothermal energy.

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Sunna, Pepper plantation site.

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Volunteers are given their time in order to help the production  of the Sunna which has one of the biggest organic plantation on site.

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Julio (22) from Dominican Republic.

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Sunna, Tomato plantation site.

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Reynir takes a break.He is one of the most active resident in Solheimar, works tirelessly in the Sunna, taking care of the tomatoes.

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Ula standing in the European Evergreen Forest in Solheimar

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Mati on the wooden bridge which was built by the residents. he is passionately collect anything that is connected to ww2.

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Jola (63), originally from Poland residing in Solheimar.

After divorcing from her husband, she fell into depression that led to serious alcohol problems,  and high blood pressure. She has recovered but her blood pressure must be checked weekly. She works for the sewing workshop.


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Sarah (19) Icelandic volunteer Usually she works for the art and craft workshop and looks after the children from the neighbouring farms around Solheimar.

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The part of the old kitchen in  the first house that was built by Sesselja Sigmunsdottir- founder of the village.

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Vi- the only Thai resident of the village, wife of the bakery leader.

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A resident enjoys his time in the weaving workshop. 

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The part of the weaving factory

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Used materials waiting to be up-cycled in the weaving workshop.

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Girl enjoys activity in the wood workshop.

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Nothing goes to waste small wooden bits will be passed to the music or arts and craft workshop.

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Særun in front of her wooden chalet  with her dog  Popeye.

Særun is the leader of the Forestry workshop- Olur. 

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John (28) from Liverpool volunteers to the Olur  (Forestry)

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The candle workshop.

The workshops are connected closely with each other and all the products goes straight to the shop of the village.

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Ertna and her best friend.

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Corridor leads us to the old meeting room that once was chaired by Sesselja.

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