The Nordic Built Challenge proposal consists of three distinct parts: site, building exterior and building interior. The proposal improves the quality and legibility of the site by emphasizing the connecting backbone of the site as a pedestrian friendly boulevard. The overall site green is enhanced, new canopies and zebra crossings improve the experience of the site for pedestrians in the harsh Icelandic weather.
The design of the prison is based on three key elements. First, is a main guard station as a central cylindrical form washed by daylight from a surrounding skylight. The skylight and guard station rise up from the building as a smooth cone, contrasting the buildings sharp edges. The second set of elements is internal courtyards forming the heart of each cell block. The courtyards let daylight into the cell blocks, allowing the possibility to spend time outdoors and in some cases; prisoners enjoy views into the courtyards.
Harpa – Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre gathers inspiration from the northern lights and the dramatic Icelandic scenery.
Situated on the border between land and sea, the Concert Hall stands out as a large, radiant sculpture reflecting both sky and harbour space as well as the vibrant life of the city. The spectacular facades have been designed in close collaboration between Henning Larsen Architects, the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and the engineering companies Rambøll and ArtEngineering GmbH from Germany.
The design of villa Lóla was an especially enjoyable dialogueprocess between client and architect. Various ideas of materials, concepts and techniques where discussed in the process. Inspirations range from Swiss mountains cabins, a sea ranch in Sonoma County in California, and Japanese solutions in spatial efficiency. Furthermore, the framing of views was an important topic of discussion. The natural surroundings of the site and the fjord of Eyjarfjördurwere key factors to address.
Brekkuskógur Cottages are designed by Arkibullan Architects, for the BHM Icelandic Academic Association. The entrance is under a porch towards the north, whereas towards the south lies the veranda with a hot tub and outside dining area. Kitchen, dining area and living room merge together to provide the houseguests with simutaneous views of the scenic landscape in all directions. A corridor covered in bookshelves from floor to ceiling leads to the bedrooms and the bathroom.
To create a serene family sanctuary that harmoniously connects inhabitants with the surrounding natural environment, while combining the best sustainable, ecofriendly materials and energy efficient technologies with minimalist architectural design.
The project of the house should fit within the border lines of the local master plan which was established for the chosen plot. Consequently the exterior building dimensions including terraces and roofing are 15,5m x 17m which is the maximum area that can be achieved in the plot.
The house answers to the needs of future inhabitants, both in the visual and space organizational ways.
“Stöðin”, a roadside stop in the Icelandic countryside, is a conjoined restaurant, drive-through, convenience store and gas station. Due to the 65-year long presence of an American army base in the country, Icelandic culture has been shaped by American influences. Stöðin addresses this cultural relationship by incorporating architectural elements from the American diner that contrast the traditional Icelandic building method of in situ cast concrete. The exposed concrete of the exterior bestows the diner with a permanence unknown by its American counterparts creating a friction between its streamlined aesthetics and the rustic frontier. An elongated bar-desk transforms into seating arrangements and characterizes the semicircular restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the scenic fjord Borgarfjörður.
In Reykjavik, Iceland capital they wanted to build a big new hotel in Ingolfstorg, a public existing plaza in Kvosin, the city historical center, very close to the Iceland Parliament. The program was asking for a way too big building that couldn´t work well with the existing city pattern. There are no big buildings on this area. OOIIO Architecture team decided to break the big hotel into 2 hotels. This decision make all the program to work much better, not only because the size of the buildings is more suitable with the historical center, also because the client could build now the buildings in different phases, and if he wants, use building A as a 5 stars hotel and building B as a 4 stars hotel, so the scheme is more flexible for its economical benefits.
Snæfellsstofa Visitor Center communicates the dignity of the surrounding nature and is closely connected to its immediate surroundings. It attracts visitors to its unique appearance and simultaneously works as an attractor for indoor and outdoor activities. The building is divided into three parts so that it can be utilized in different ways, depending on the season.
PhotographerSigurgeirSigurjónsson – The marriage between the building and the landscape
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