Handverkstæðið Ásgarður

Ásgarður was established in 1993 and is a non-profit organization. There are 8 helpers here and there are 37 disabled workers, aged from 16-70. Ásgarður is a workplace that emphasizes the human aspect of working. Therefore, we adapt the production to the possibilities of every individual, to help them work with ideas and tools, taking part in the creative process from design to a finished product. This gives the individual confidence, willpower and patience. From the beginning, we have concentrated on designing simple, strong and exciting toys that relate to Icelandic tradition, whether that is fishing, farming, history or adventure. The professional ambition of Ásgarður is based on Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy. We do not consider a disability to be a problem, but rather a possibility. This is how we assist the individual in working with their disability, to find their talents. We sing every morning before work. The singing has shown us that it is a good way to forget about our daily problems, to tune in on a common rhythm for a good start of the day. Each department has its speciality. Toys, jewelry, furniture, art or utilitarian objects. If a toy is simple, no details will prohibit the child’s imagination from changing a horse into a roaring lion. One toy can be a doorway to many adventures for both the designer and the user. We work with different materials from the world of plants, stones or animals.