Stone Wood Vegetation
Honorable Mention beim internationalen Wettbewerb
Iceland Black Lava Fields Visitor Center
Traditional Form
Iceland the arctic island in the Atlantic Ocean. Characterised by its rough landscapes and harsh weather. A place where fire and ice define nature. This proposal offers shelter and panoramic views at the same time. The hut-like structure fits into local scenery. The visitor center in the Dimmuborgir Lava Field is inspired by the traditional Icelandic architecture.
It has the proportion and the scale of a longhouse with a green gable roof. The solid and massive concrete base is complemented by a wooden structure. Because of the natural occurrence of coquina, concrete is deemed to be a local, durable, economic and fireproof material in Iceland. Although Iceland has less resources of wood for construction, they have a long tradition building in timber. Since the end of the 19th century they import wood from Scandinavia.
The space is divided by the office and the kitchen into different zones: museum, foyer and café.
The rooms are offering different views to the volcano and the lava field in the East and the lakes in the West. In the south is a big panoramic terrace under one protective roof. Storage, archive space, sanitary facilities and other secondary rooms are located in the basement and are barrier-free accessible.
Due the special ecological conditions in Iceland the building is heated by geothermal energy. It is naturally vented, the kitchen and sanitary facilities have mechanical exhaustion.
Panoramic View
Local Form
In Zusammenarbeit mit Anna-Laura Hölz