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Elevated Acoustic Pathways in Iceland's Unique Cave Landscape

Author:
Fabian Weinhart
Elevated Acoustic Pathways in Iceland's Unique Cave Landscape

Project in-detail

Elevated pathways connect visitors to acoustic isolation and panoramic views within a unique cave landscape, enhancing wellness and exploration experiences in Iceland.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated pathways enhance visitor access to various elevations within the landscape.
02
Acoustic isolation ensures a serene environment for wellness activities.
03
Panoramic observation points provide unique views of the surrounding cave landscape.
04
Information boards guide visitors through geological and ecological features.
05
A central tower integrates amenities while maintaining functional separation of spaces.

The Cave Observation Tower & Path is located in the Myvatn Caves, Vogar Farmland, Iceland, an area known for its remarkable geological features. It focuses on combining wellness and tourism, offering visitors a way to engage with the natural environment. The design highlights the relationship between the built space and the surrounding caves and lava fields while providing functional areas for relaxation and exploration.

Path Center Tower

The Path Center Tower acts as a central point in the design, allowing visitors to connect visually with the striking landscape. This building includes necessary facilities such as a cafe, reception area, and public restrooms. Its strategic position helps visitors move easily between wellness activities and observation spots, promoting an intuitive flow throughout the site.

Wellness Track

The wellness track emphasizes privacy and peace, featuring paths that are acoustically isolated, creating a calm atmosphere. Located close to the bathing cave, this track enables visitors to relax after outdoor activities. Bridges along the path are elevated and designed to be safe under different weather conditions, allowing visitors to fully appreciate their surroundings while having moments of personal reflection.

Touristic Track

In contrast, the touristic track is open to the public, providing varied experiences at different heights. Information boards placed along the path offer insights into the area’s geological and ecological significance, guiding visitors in their exploration of the landscape. This thoughtful placement of educational features ensures that the tour experience is both useful and engaging.

Architectural Organization

The architectural layout of the project is organized into layers. The first level contains reception and wellness facilities. The second level offers additional spa services and touristic areas. The third level includes cafes and bars. This arrangement separates activities by function, making it easier for visitors to engage with the distinct purposes of each space.

Natural light enters through well-placed openings, creating patterns that shift throughout the day. This interplay with light enhances the visitor's experience as they move through different areas, drawing attention to the thoughtful details that make the space inviting and engaging.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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