Location : ReykJavik / Iceland
Type : Cultural
Project Area : 550 sqm
The Grotto
Project Overview
Iceland is a land shaped by fire, ice, and silence.
Our design draws from its raw, enigmatic beauty—vast, windswept, and often surreal. This conceptual project centers around the Grjótagjá region, where a concealed fissure in the earth becomes the metaphor for discovery. The design narrative reflects Iceland’s dual nature: harsh above, warm below; desolate from afar, vibrant up close.
From this idea emerges a journey—one that begins in the stone and unfolds toward the sky. The architecture is shaped by contrast: hidden and visible, grounded and elevated, minimal and expressive. The grotto and pinnacle serve as the bookends of this journey, together forming a landmark deeply rooted in place yet open to the unknown.
The Grotto: A World Within
Set into the base of a natural rock wall, the grotto is a sanctuary of warmth and stillness. Its form follows the geometry of tectonic movement. The material palette draws from the Icelandic terrain: rough basalt stone on the exterior, soft yellow sand plaster and timber within.
Entering the grotto is like stepping into the earth itself. A central skylight pierces the roof, casting shafts of daylight along the main path mimicking the fissure above. Interior spaces are fluid and intimate: curved edges, warm tones, and tactile surfaces create a contrast to the austere landscape outside. The centerpiece café invites reflection and rest, echoing Iceland’s geothermal shelters that have long offered comfort in the wild.
Pathway & Procession
From the grotto, a raised pathway begins—lifting visitors gently above the ground to protect the fragile landscape. Constructed from weathered steel and modular timber panels, the path meanders across the terrain like a quiet line in the land. At key moments, it expands into observation decks, offering framed views of the Grjótagjá caves and volcanic formations beyond.
Artworks by Icelandic artists are integrated along the route, transforming the journey into a cultural experience as well as a spatial one. The pathway eventually leads to the Vogagjá natural baths and culminates at a bold vertical form—the Pinnacle—marking the final point in the visitor’s unfolding journey.
The Pinnacle: Skyward Reflection
Where the grotto is quiet and embedded, the pinnacle rises as an iconic counterpoint. Three monumental concrete legs form its foundation—recalling basalt columnar joints found across Iceland. Above, the tower is clad in seamless stainless steel, mirroring the sky during the day and glowing softly at night, evoking geysers in motion.
This spiraling structure hosts multiple platforms offering 360° views of the volcanic plains. It invites a slow, contemplative ascent—transforming the horizon with every step upward. The pinnacle becomes both destination and orientation point: a marker in the land and a monument to Iceland’s vertical forces—light, wind, and sky.
