Myvatn, Iceland
Studio RE+N’s new Iceland Volcano Museum integrates seamlessly into the landscape. Its unique design features an inclined roof that emerges organically from the earth, ensuring minimal disruption to its location.
“The museum’s design aims to blend harmoniously with the landscape, offering visitors and locals a unique opportunity to engage with the surrounding environment,” explains Yuting Zhang, Co-Founder and Design Director of Studio RE+N.
“Our vision is to create a space where the beauty of nature and the changing seasons are experienced through the museum’s various spaces and experiences.”
The museum’s circular structure draws inspiration from existing natural elements in the area, such as volcanic craters, hot spring baths, and lakes.
Its elongated elliptical shape is strategically aligned with the Hverfjall and Dimmuborgir Lava Fields.
The double-sloped elliptical volume facilitates a fluid space that merges the indoors with the outdoors.
The intersection of these slopes forms a terraced performance deck, providing an elevated vantage point over the landscape.
Within the museum, a continuous ring of exhibition and office spaces encircles a tranquil reflecting pool, symbolizing the reflection of Myvatn’s culture within this space.
Three distinct pathways guide visitors through the museum’s circular layout.
The entrance features a descending ramp, symbolically separating visitors from the mundane world.
The interior gallery begins here, offering a serene path for contemplation and a rich exploration of artwork and installations.
The second pathway, an exterior walkable roof, serves as an observation deck.
This vantage point allows for stunning views of the Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir Lava Fields, and the Myvatn area, providing an uplifting and panoramic experience.
The third pathway is an outdoor park loop trail, acting as an open-air museum where visitors can enjoy large-scale sculptures and site-specific commissions amidst the dynamic landscape.
Project: Iceland Volcano Museum
Architects: Studio RE+N
Lead Architect: Yuting Zhang
Photographs: Courtesy of Studio RE+N
