Snaefellsjokull-glacier National Park Visitor´s Center

SNAEFELLSJÖKULL - GLACIER NATIONAL PARK VISITOR´S CENTER - OPEN COMPETITION 2006
THE ICELANDIC GOVERNMENT HELD AN OPEN COMPETITION FOR A VISITOR´S CENTER FOR SNAEFELLSJÖKULL-GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, ICELAND IN 2006. ARKÍS´S PROPOSAL WON 1ST PRIZE.
The Visitor´s Center will be located in Hellissandur which is located very close to the Snaefellsjökull-glacier in the West of Iceland. This competition was the first in a row of competitions that will be held over the next years to build up Visitor´s Centers for Iceland´s National Parks. The second competition was held in 2008 for Vatnajökull-glacier National Park {Skriduklaustur}, which Arkís won as well.

The idea of the proposal is based on interacting with nature. The building, the glacier, nature, wildlife, people and scenery. The building is located on top of an old historic walking path in the lava and the path passes through the building and connects these two.

The building is divided into 3 parts, The whale, the walking path and the fishbone. The whale, the main part of the building, mainly used for exhibits and information for the National Park, is made of Corten steel, which rusts up to a certain point, harmonizing the 4 seasons and its colours. The fishbone is made of larch and houses part of the service area and residence for the National Park´s guardian. The walking path connects the whale and the fishbone and the building as a whole to the environment. It is partly made from glass and on top is a viewing area with a great view all around and to the glacier. The building is 500 m2. Final design has begun and anticipated completion is in 2011.

The building was shown as one of the top two architectural designs at Magma 2007, in Reykjavík, an exhibition of Icelandic contemporary design.