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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
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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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