IS10

The rugged landscape near Grjótagjá holds the traces of time: the movement of earth’s crust, the cyclical alternation of seasons and fragments of Icelandic anthropization. As such, the Icelandic Movie Pavilion emerges from the ground at the crossroads of travel paths for hikers, horseback riders, cyclists, or vehicular joyriders. Little manmade pavilions disseminated in the landscape on the more permanent of the meandering paths signal the approach to the Unearthed Movie Pavilion. Movies are journeys in time and space, where the experience of the travel matters more than the destination.

Our project will be a landmark stop in the discovery of northern Iceland latches on the diamond circle grand tour. Its massing is reminiscent of tectonic shifts, but also of vernacular turf houses, built in continuity with the ground. Mortarless basalt walls, like unearthed traces from a distant past, lead to a partially sunken farmyard space. This is a meeting place, where travelers can either congregate, partially shield from the surroundings, or proceed to enter the ambiguous volumes of the Movie Pavilion emerging from the ground: the movie theater to the south, and the café and exhibition spaces to the north. The first could be described as an introverted mass that jolts up from the ground, the latter as a levitating canopy with flexible open spaces underneath.  

 In both masses, the roof reconnects to the ground and allows turf to grow on its surface. The south facing roof is steeper and equipped with energy generating solar panels. The north facing low eave is meant for access, and spontaneous steps adorn its base to enjoy the landscape and view of northern lights.

Both structures utilize locally sourced timber framing on rockfill concrete foundations. Wood is also used to line the interior walls and ceilings, while heat trapping curtains are used to partition and enclose the spaces as needed. The construction shapes exploit the ground thermal mass properties.

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