Prismatic Landscapes
In the presence of nature’s magnificent splendor, architecture must navigate a delicate balance: how to celebrate the landscape without overshadowing it. Such beauty can be experienced with the simplest of means—just a tent and a sleeping bag. The central question, then, is how to create a permanent structure in such a setting without diminishing its inherent elegance.
Project Size
22,000 sf
Location
Artic / Nordic
Fragments of Ice, Lenses of Light
This project responds by blending the essential elements of the program with the contours of the site. Architecture and topography merge into a spatial journey where visitors move through both the immediate surroundings and the echoes of geological time. The only visible sign of intervention is a constellation of sculptural glass lenses, serving dual purposes as skylights for subterranean spaces and lanterns for approaching visitors. By day, they mirror the vast expanse of the horizon; at dusk, they shimmer with a gentle glow. Their abstract orientation recalls shards of ice scattered beneath the piercing sun.
This intertwining of cinematic experience and majestic landscape fosters a dialogue between nature, architecture, and the art of film. Inside, light, space, and view weave together in shifting narratives, guiding visitors between interior and exterior worlds. The carefully positioned lenses anchor the building in its environment, while the majority of the structure remains subterranean, reminiscent of Michael Heizer’s Double Negative. Up close, its presence is unmistakable; from afar, it disappears seamlessly into the earth.
Blending Topography and Storytelling
The site itself lies at the juncture of colliding tectonic plates, embodying the monumental energy of Earth’s shifting crust. This geological drama resonates like an ancient myth, once told through symbols that connected cultures across distances. Today, cinema assumes this role, transmitting stories that transcend boundaries.
Internally, the design juxtaposes private enclosures with expansive communal spaces. The cinema, projection room, kitchen, and restrooms are sequestered, while the entrance, ticketing area, café, and gallery are bathed in daylight channeled through skylights and expansive glass walls.
Sustainability shapes the project at every level. Embedded underground, the structure is protected from Iceland’s severe climate, maintaining a steady temperature of 4–5°C and reducing its energy footprint. Geothermal wells further augment the heating system, while a vegetated roof integrates with the terrain. Climatic-resistant double-glass lenses punctuate the surface, adaptable for art displays. Automated screens and advanced insulation ensure optimal performance, adjusting fluidly to the changing seasons.
