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Reflective Facade Mirroring Nature With Views of Hverfjall and the Northern Lights

Authors:
Martin Zemma, Federico Bonessi baade
Reflective Facade Mirroring Nature With Views of Hverfjall and the Northern Lights

Project in-detail

With a reflective facade that mimics the surrounding landscape and integrates views of Hverfjall and the Northern Lights, the museum serves as a cultural space that bridges art and nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Reflective facade design that integrates with the surrounding Icelandic landscape.
02
Access through a partially underground cabin that provides a unique entry experience.
03
Dual wings organize private and public functions, enhancing visitor circulation.
04
Interior lighting is primarily achieved through strategically placed skylights.
05
Terrace offers panoramic views of Hverfjall and Myvatn Lake for visitors.

The Morph Museum is a cultural space located in Iceland, designed to highlight the country's unique natural landscapes while providing a venue for artistic expression. The design concept focuses on how architecture can interact with the environment, aiming to offer visitors an engaging experience that connects them with both the art inside and the nature outside.

Spatial Organization

The museum is organized into two main wings. On the right, private and open workspaces support the museum’s operations, facilitating various functions. The left wing is dedicated to public access, containing amenities such as a coffee shop and an observation point. This arrangement allows for easy movement throughout the space while clearly separating private and public areas.

Main Access and Entry Experience

Visitors enter through a cabin situated on the edge of the property and partially below ground. This design creates a gradual change from a tight entry space to the much larger museum hall. This transition engages visitors, preparing them for what lies within. The hall features a triple-height design that captures a considerable amount of natural light, creating an open and airy atmosphere.

Facade and Exhibition Space

The facade of the Morph Museum mirrors and distorts the landscape around it. This approach serves to enhance the sense of connection between the building and its environment. Instead of large windows, the design uses skylights, which bring in natural light while focusing attention on the artworks inside. This choice emphasizes the art against the changing backdrop of Iceland’s scenery.

Art and Nature Integration

The museum explores different ideas about beauty. From the outside, visitors see a natural and surreal landscape, while inside, art reflects a crafted interpretation of nature. The visitor experience culminates at a terrace that provides a view of the dramatic Icelandic landscape, including Hverfjall and Myvatn Lake. This design detail allows people to appreciate the landscape, highlighting how art and nature can come together in a meaningful way.

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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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