Iceland Volcano Museum | International competition | Lake Mývatn, Iceland
(In)visible museum – concept design
“The proximity of the volcano underlines this unique relationship between nature and architecture.
After arrival at the museum, visitors meet a volcanic rock wall. The volcanoes produce volcanic material which was the inspiration for the museum’s exterior and the interior.
The exterior walls are designed as “gabions” filled with natural lava rocks from the local volcano. A similar conception was used for the spaces in the foyer, cafe, and the exhibition hall.
The use of it in the exterior is unique in many ways, both as it has reference to the old traditional Icelandic way of using lava inbuilt structures but also with the new methods that were developed for this building in the use of natural volcanic rock as an exterior cladding.
On the other hand, the roof terrace of the museum gives a 360-degree magnificent view of the surrounding nature – the biggest exhibit.”
