Iceland Volcano Museum
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Class information
Proje Türü Yarışma Projesi
İşveren Bee Breeders
Class detail

The Iceland Volcano Museum is designed through cultural and physical context of site, typology, order and organic forces and existing pathway in the site. Design proposal aims to respect and learn from the cultural and physical context of the given site. Iceland as an island emerging from the dynamic land movements and volcanic activities of Atlantic fault line, inspire to live and built with and within nature. Vast, green, flatlands enhance by contrast the magnitude and expression of the Hverfjall Volcano so much that it is still possible to experience the dominance of it from 3.5 km away. The proposal influenced from the section of Hverfjall Volcano to reach a similar effect in the landscape.

Another input, which is one of the main reference for the project is the existing typologies of the region. Icelandic tradition of building as an extension of natural landscape: “the turf houses” also demonstrate the understanding of living with nature as an essential part of the island. In that regard, the proposal suggests that a Volcano Museum needs to be about the experience of the earth with its textures, movements, and greenery. Thus, the exhibition space, which is located under the inclining topography, is designed to provide the experience of both visual and tactile sensations of the Mother Earth.

The suggested Volcano Museum divide the project site into two dialectical parts. The opposing forces of order/organic are put into the display with contrasting design languages into these two parts. The building is organized in this dichotomy yet blur this line by blending these two forces. The landscape in the east is organized with topographical movements also covers the demanded car parking to prevent them from effecting the calming experience of the visitor.

Office spaces on the west side of the elongated building are situated in a semi-transparent box. Althought it seems like a rigid structure as a certain box, functions are fluidly distributed. Inside, the open plan alongside the multiple level organization of space break apart he usual limiting office experience and suggest a working environment where the main user of the building can customize and socialize easily. By participating visually to the exhibition atmosphere.

In the given site, the only clue for collective memory is the existing pathway. The proposal also respects the public memory and includes it as an important architectural element.  Although the pathway has become integrated with the Museum building, the passerby is still able to use it as a part of his/her daily experience but still can have a glimpse of the exhibition along the way. Otherwise, he/she can also reach the functions through this pathway. By blending into the context yet by making its presence felt, the museum should be a part of the daily experience of Icelanders but also embrace international attention.

To sum up, designing through all these criterias, it is aimed to experience both nature as an organic part and regulated area as an order part in one building by visitors and users/personals of the museum.