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Lake Mývatn Summer House

Project type

Residential | Summer House

Date

2020

Location

Lake Mývatn Conservation Area, Iceland

The relationship between a building and its physical context provides opportunities to develop new concepts in architecture when the site conditions make conventional design practices unfeasible.

This personal project, inspired by a trip to Iceland, explores the possibilities for architectural innovation in relation to a site's unique physical conditions, local building practices, and environmental protection regulations, through the design of a summer house in Iceland's Lake Mývatn Conservation Area.

The angular form of the building is inspired by the natural formations in the landscape, and helps frame views that would be blocked by more conventional design practices. Following Icelandic architectural tradition, a turf roof further replaces the grass that was removed for construction, and the structure is wrapped in a charred cedar siding for weather protection.

The flow of space within the house is uninterrupted by partitions, with the living room, kitchen and dining area occupying an open plan main floor. The bedrooms in the mezzanine and ground floor are accessed by a steel spiral staircase.

The open plan living room and glass enclosure leading onto a viewing platform gives justice to the grandeur of the conservation area landscape.