The Violence of the Winds

Shaped by Iceland’s relentless storms, the Renewable Research Center in Reykjavik embodies the motion of air—its shears, gusts, and violent winds—standing as both testament and instrument to the forces that define its landscape. The design translates atmospheric dynamics into architecture, turning invisible pressures into spatial experience. The complex unfolds through seven elongated wings, their geometry defined by prevailing wind patterns. Between them, three large atriums act as voids carved by air currents, allowing natural ventilation and diffused daylight to animate the interior.

Each roof responds to the direction and strength of the winds: surfaces bend, twist, and sink, mimicking turbulence frozen in motion. The design transforms environmental stress into form, using aerodynamic shaping to reduce resistance and optimize energy flow. Within these sculpted volumes, laboratories, prototyping workshops, and classrooms support research on wind, solar, and geothermal energy. Exhibition halls and auditoriums extend this knowledge to the public, promoting energy awareness and climate innovation.

The building’s operational systems mirror its concept: roof-integrated photovoltaic panels, geothermal heating, and natural ventilation harness Iceland’s resources. The geothermal gardens surrounding the wings expose the earth’s processes, turning infrastructure into landscape. The result is both a scientific facility and a civic landmark—a place where architecture, environment, and research converge, capturing the essence of Iceland’s volatile beauty in material and form.

Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
Program: Renewable energy research center, laboratories, workshops, classrooms, exhibition hall, auditorium, geothermal gardens
Area: 18,000 m²
Structure: Steel and timber composite with concrete cores
Energy Systems: Geothermal heating and cooling, roof-integrated solar panels, wind-assisted ventilation
Envelope: Triple-glazed façade with aerodynamic cladding
Sustainability: Net-zero energy operation, passive ventilation, geothermal landscape integration

Design Team: Andreas Palfinger, Ana Cyano, Aysin Sahin, Aryaman Garg, Nele Herrmann, Param Patel, Ankit Muhury, Gabriel Perucchi, and Luan Fontes.