A GATEWAY TO THE UNIVERSE.
Resting near the Hverfjall volcano on the northern side of Icelandic territory, the project is designed to host a coffee shop located at the base of the hiking trail.
The Gateway is thought to be the link between the main road and the trail, acting as a filter and a shelter at the same time.
It hosts not only a resting area where people can enjoy the magnificent landscape that surrounds the site but also a small exhibition space, a visitor centre, a retail store and a gazing ground to enjoy the Northern lights when the nights are dark and the sky is clear.
“A Gateway to the Universe” is designed in collaboration with Loop Design Hub and Gosh Studio.
COMPOSITION
Three main elements shape the design: pavilions, the void and the arcade structure.
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The project acts as a shelter hosting several pavilions under its roof, to create a holistic and harmonious system.
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Intended to be the turning point of the project, where hikers deviate from the main access of the site to the hiking trail.
It also connects the coffee shop to the functions on the other side of the canopy.
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In order to have big windows that connect the inside to the surrounding landscape, an array of prefab concrete arches of different sizes and shapes are built - the most materially efficient and structurally elegant way to span across large spaces.
