Architecture

Tvísöngur sculpture, by artist Lukas Kühne, mixes concrete, nature, and sound to create an interactive tribute to Iceland’s unique tradition of five-tone harmony.  The installation piece looks like a grouping of interconnected cement bubbles from afar. Up close the five segments are quite large, ranging from roughly 6 to 12 feet tall and can be entered via rounded arches built into the walls. Once inside the stark industrial domes, visitors will find that they have each been designed to resonate at different harmonies as the wind blowing in off the cliff rushes through the openings. The collective effect is almost as though the wind itself is playing a giant instrument. The five chambers of the piece are meant to recall the Icelandic musical tradition of quintal harmony, with each dome reflecting a tone in the tradition. Juxtaposed with the serene and stark surroundings, it seems as though Iceland itself is creating the music. Tvísöngur is a permanent work and is meant to keep the country’s musical traditions alive, which is not an easy thing to do simply with concrete.

When development started on the hiking trails and surrounding area to Stórurð and Dyrfjöll it was decided to build a service cabin for the area. The cabin strengthens sustainable travel in the area in by increasing the infrastructure surrounding a popular tourist area. The area surrounding these popular destinations can now withstand more traffic, increases; the security of tourists, nature conservation and pride amongst locals. The architecht behind the cabin is Erik Rönning Andersen. The design is original and modern and clearly inspired by the legendary Dyrfjöll. Emphasis was placed on the building being environmentally friendly and requiring little maintenance - which is reflected in the simple choice of materials.The building is modest and simple but serves its purpose well in great harmony with the surrounding nature. The house is composed of two separate cottages; one houses a toilet and the other an information and viewing space.

At Hafnarhólmi in Borgarfjörður eystri a new, magnificent building was unveiled in 2020. Not only had there been a lack of facilities for fishermen and other dock workers of Borgarfjörður harbor - but also for the enormous number of tourists who make their way to the puffin nesting ground in Hafnarhólmi each year. The municipality, therefore, decided to host a design competition in collaboration with the Association of Icelandic Architects for the construction of a new facility in the area. The winning submission came from Anderson & Sigurdsson architects. The house is plain and fits well in with the surroundings, but still is an attraction in itself and catches the eye of everyone who visits the area.

Snæfellsstofa is a visitor center and information center for the eastern area of ​​Vatnajökull National Park. It opened in 2010 and is the first environmentally certified building in Iceland according to the BREEAM environmental standard. ARKÍS Architects designed Snæfellsstofa. The eternal creativity of the glacier inspires the shape of Snæfellsstofa, how he either breaks his way or retreats and throws new, ever-changing natural gems into the landscape. These creations are a model for the spaces and shapes that can be found in Snæfellsstofa. In terms of building materials, Snæfellsstofa draws inspiration from Gunnarshús, larch in wall cladding, pasture on the roof, and loads on a plot of homemade stones. Nearby are vast forests that become visible in the appearance of the house. The horizontal and slightly sloping strata (tertiary lava) with prominent sloping rock tunnels are reflected in the main axis both in form and choice of material and color. The building enjoys itself extremely well as it stands on the slopes of Fljótsdalur.

Vök Baths is a geothermal destination on the beautiful Lake Urriðavatn in East Iceland. Located in only a 5-minute drive from Egilsstaðir, the largest settlement in the East, Vök Baths is an essential stop on any visit to this part of the country.