Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects

06
Dec 2010
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© Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

Architects: ARKÍS architects
Location: Egilsstaðir,
Owner: Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður – Vatnajökull galcier
Project area: 750 sqm
Project year: 2010
Photographs: Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

© Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

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.

© Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

The visitor center is placed on the site at the location of a pronounced change in elevation, so that the building gently glides over the terrain. The location is selected to ensure shelter from winds, ample daylight and mountain views.

plan

The building form is inspired by the eternal creative force of the glacier; how it breaks its way through terrains or retreats and carves new, ever changing natural wonders into the landscape. These creations provide models for the spaces and forms found in the building.

Material palettes are largely composed of local materials. Local larch, turf roof and landscaping walls of local rock. The nearby forest will become apparent in the building’s texture.

© Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

© Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

The Building

In plan, the building is X shaped. The building’s main axis, the exhibitions- and education axis rises up to both sides and creates a framework for an exhibition space and a library. The exhibition- and education axis rises up from the Rock Foundation as a living and ever changing glacier. The Rock Foundation or the service axis crosses the exhibition axis and houses a café and restrooms in addition to staff facilities.

© Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson

Through the two axes lies the information path, ending in an outdoor amphitheater.

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.

Cite:
Rosenberg , Andrew . "Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects" 06 Dec 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 26 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/93050>

 
 
 
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up_today_arch says:

Very strong image… easy and impressive look…

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# December 6, 2010 at 08:04
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    Ronia says:

    I absolutly agree – go, Iceland, go! :)

    Reply
     
    # December 6, 2010 at 08:40
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new says:

Great project and excellent use of material. However, could somebody explain the butcher block detail.

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# December 6, 2010 at 08:46
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Holcim Awards says:

Nice design. Simple forms arranged in great composition.

http://on.fb.me/holcim-awards

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# December 6, 2010 at 15:13
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Paulius says:

Best regards, from Lithuania;)

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# December 13, 2010 at 18:23
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11:49 AM Dec 6th

Magnus Strom

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/JwA0BV8 via @archdaily

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12:33 PM Dec 6th

Erik Joya

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects: © Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson Architects: ARKÍS… http://goo.gl/fb/Lpb0s

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12:40 PM Dec 6th

Travel Writer

RT| Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects: © Sigurgeir SigurjónssonArchitects: ARKÍS archi… http://bit.ly/ifWE3g @archdaily

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12:40 PM Dec 6th

DEZIGN

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects: © Sigurgeir SigurjónssonArchitects: ARKÍS architects Location:… http://bit.ly/hcHYEe

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12:40 PM Dec 6th

Bocetos Digitales

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects: © Sigurgeir SigurjónssonArchitects: ARKÍS architects Location:… http://bit.ly/er1lhz

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12:41 PM Dec 6th

Gkapraras

RT @ArchDaily: Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects http://archdai.ly/hBGJNf #architecture

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12:44 PM Dec 6th

Koda Design

RT @ArchDaily: Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects http://archdai.ly/hBGJNf #architecture

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12:47 PM Dec 6th

André Amaral

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/nCOrs0F via @archdaily

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12:49 PM Dec 6th

try brian

RT @ArchDaily: Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects http://archdai.ly/hBGJNf #architecture

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12:52 PM Dec 6th

Architecture+Molding

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects: Architects: ARKÍS architects Location: Egilsstaðir, Iceland Ow… http://bit.ly/er1lhz

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1:05 PM Dec 6th

tuttibubulonis

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1:06 PM Dec 6th

Engy

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects via ArchDaily – © Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson Architects: … http://tinyurl.com/23uz3ul

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1:07 PM Dec 6th

Barry Maguire

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects via ArchDaily – © Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson Architects: … http://tinyurl.com/23uz3ul

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1:41 PM Dec 6th

Scott @ Cube Studio

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects | ArchDaily: Architects: ARKÍS architects L… http://bit.ly/fMfTnJ http://www.cubestudio.info

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2:54 PM Dec 6th

Henry A.Vásquez

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects http://pulsene.ws/sy2e #architecture #arquitectura

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3:04 PM Dec 6th

Mark Gardner

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/Dp2MCIn via @archdaily

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3:37 PM Dec 6th

Devin Givner

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects http://pulsene.ws/sy2e #modernarchitecture

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3:47 PM Dec 6th

tuttibubulonis

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects: © Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson Architects: ARKÍS… http://goo.gl/fb/0RfUy

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2:30 PM Dec 10th

Nicholas Patten

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center. http://bit.ly/gX9okV

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3:19 AM Dec 14th

Nils Mattisson

Lots of good architecture out of Iceland lately. http://www.archdaily.com/93050/snaefellsstofa-visitor-center-arkis-architects/

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3:26 AM Dec 14th

Tha

http://www.archdaily.com/93050/snaefellsstofa-visitor-center-arkis-architects/ http://fb.me/GjBfmjNs

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4:03 AM Dec 14th

teteto.

q rica tectura. http://t.co/OP9wfTK vía @archdaily

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7:59 AM Dec 14th

pinar k

günaydın archdaily… sen de olmasan ne olacak bu benim sefil mimar hallerim! http://t.co/ppLPjJv

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2:46 PM Dec 21st

Gabe Ruane

Stern looking, kind of bunker-lIke. But I love it. #architecture http://is.gd/j2F9i @plethoraapp

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1:37 AM Dec 22nd

Manuel Bernal H.

http://is.gd/j2F9i @plethoraapp

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5:20 PM Sep 14th

Sara Blask

Beautiful visitor's center in Vatnajokull National Park designed by Reykjavik-based Arkis Arkitektar http://t.co/wd144Px #Iceland

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11:49 PM Sep 14th

Arkitektinn

Wonderful Icelandic architecture …. Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS… http://t.co/97Qf6GYV

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12:47 AM Sep 15th

Iceland is Hot

Wonderful Icelandic architecture …. Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS… http://t.co/97Qf6GYV

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2:05 AM Sep 15th

Hotel Hafnarfjordur

Wonderful Icelandic architecture …. Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS… http://t.co/97Qf6GYV

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4:32 PM Oct 25th

Graham Cowen

Strong geometric forms characterize the Snaefellsstofa Centre in Iceland. http://t.co/FflM4i3l @plethoraapp

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7:53 PM Jan 30th

Marcos Aquino

Snaefellsstofa Visitor Center / ARKÍS architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/gFFxsyvp via @archdaily

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