Foreword

Bee Breeders is introducing its first country-based architecture competition series, with three prospective sites located in northern Iceland. In the second competition of this series, we sought design proposals for a new Thermal Springs Guest House.

The competition was run in partnership with Vogafjós Farm Resort, a family-owned guest house located on the east coast of Lake Mývatn and near to Hverfjall volcano in Iceland's Dimmuborgir region. The farm has been owned and operated by the Vogafjós family for nearly 120 years. It houses 120 sheep and 40 cows and cattle, offers views of lava rocks and birch trees, and is set in an open location perfect for viewing the northern lights and for visiting nearby geothermal hot springs. Vogafjós' resort and organic Cow Café are well-known among Icelandic locals and visitors. At its cafe one can order from a menu including local smoked trout, raw smoked lamb, mozzarella and other cheeses made from cow's milk, and fresh Geysir rye bread baked in the ground by the geothermal heat.

Designers were tasked with submitting plans for a new guest house extension for the Vogafjós Farm that takes full advantage of the natural surroundings. The program is intended to supplement the existing Vogafjós farm resort, with 8-10 new guest rooms and services for high-profile visitors. Each guest room is to incorporate views of the site, as well as the frequent Aurora Borealis in the skies above. The fully self-functioning complex will ideally offer privacy and high-end guest rooms, a common kitchen area, living room, and an outdoor hot tub.

The submissions received explored a variety of ways to connect the future building with the stunning natural environment.

The use of earthwork, wood, and water, were common themes found in the proposals, which came from designers based in countries from around the globe. 
Iceland's other-wordly landscape is certainly an inspiration for, and driver of, the proposals received, and the jury found the quality of drawings and imagery produced for this competition to be world-class. 

The winning and shortlisted entries were selected for their respect of the site, and their capacity to offer visitors a truly special, local experience. 
Bee Breeders would like to thank each and every participant for his or her hard work, and careful attention to the Vogafjós' program request. 
The jury believes the projects highlighted below represent a fantastic set of ideas for this future project.

COMPETITION ORGANISERS
Iceland Thermal 
Springs Guest House
Official partner
Iceland Thermal 
Springs Guest House

1st Prize Winner

Project name

Converse Guest House

Competitions are a great way to explore and test in an uninhibited context that allows for new creative freedoms and playfulness.

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Author Eric Gonzales
Country United States

2nd Prize Winner

Project name

SAILING SEASONS GUESTHOUSE

I want to challenge myself because competitions allow one to think out of the box and to increase one’s potential. I also believe that the competition will bring the opportunity to grow ideas and develop human resources and skills. Competitions encourage a dynamic working environment as the working team will do brainstorming to come up with the best design.

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Country Thailand

3rd Prize Winner

Project name

Singleton

It's a stimulation. It keeps my mind constantly alert and open. It also allows me to confront new topics and specific contexts. It is an opportunity to be able to express myself freely and to perfect my architectural style.

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Author Marwan Hamama
Country France

BB STUDENT AWARD

Project name

OUTPOST

Authors Shuting Zhang, Jiakun He
Country China
+72 points Buildner University Rankings

BB GREEN AWARD

Project name

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Competitions allow us to develop a collective thinking and re-question the boundaries of the discipline.

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Authors Sergi Viñals Musquera, Anna Mirapeix Gresa
Country Spain

Honorable Mentions

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Project name

Learning from Iceland

Authors Matthias Pabst, Martin Meier
Country Germany
Project name

Icelandic rooms

Authors David Erik Bernatek, Adam Repaský
Country Czech Republic
+72 points Buildner University Rankings
Project name

Northern Lights Guesthouse

Company Dahlberg Busnardo
Authors Mattias Dahlberg, Annapaola Busnardo
Country Sweden
Project name

Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House

Authors Nicholas Houser, James Hardt
Country United States
Project name

Longhouse

Author Noah Cai
Country Canada
Project name

Iceland Thermal Springs

Shortlisted projects

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Ljósker í nótt

Patrick Kolodziejczyk

Australia

Auroras' Vessels

Kelly Bowers

Taylor Grindley

United Kingdom

Bridget Gramlich

United States

Fluid Landscapes

Erik Tsurumaki

United States

Thermal springs guest house

Georgeana Buran

Adriana paula Panturu

Romania

Iceland Thermal Springs

Marcelo Moura

Marina Dipre

Victoria Greenman

Alberto Botafogo

Brazil

TUCKED IN

Petra Stanev

Shannon Mclain

Taylor Parchinski

United States

Torfbæir Guesthouse

Mark Talbot

United States

Long House

Jane Lee

Eunhye Kim

Jingyu Maeng

Kaywon University of Art & Design

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
South Korea

HORFA/ SAFNA

Tom Macklen

United Kingdom

VOGAFJOS THERMAL GUEST HOUSE

Taylan Tekeli

Gokdeniz Cetin

United States

Icelandic rooms

David Erik Bernatek

Adam Repaský

Faculty of Architecture BUT - FA VUT

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
Czech Republic

ICELANDIC GENIUS LOCI VILLAGE

Junphil Park

Jaewoong Lee

Kaywon University of art&design

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
South Korea

SUNSTONE RETREAT

Giuseppe Pastonesi

Desislava Georgieva

Aleksandra Todorova

Nina Gerosa

Italy

Converse Guest House

Eric Gonzales

United States

ICELAND THERMAL SPRINGS GUEST HOUSE at VOGAFJOS FARM RESORT

Jessica Santaniello barrera

Javier Barrera

Cristina Cusco

Jessica Tsiris

United States

An Oasis of Calm

Walter Hjaltested

Caterina Decker

Switzerland

Learning from Iceland

Matthias Pabst

Martin Meier

Germany

C0293

Melanie Schubert

Sandi Johnen

Piervito Pirulli

United Kingdom

THE WAVE

Ted Porter

Gong Chen

Jorg Thoene

Noelia Linares

United States

OUTPOST

Shuting Zhang

Jiakun He

Leibniz Universität Hannover

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
China

Descending Aurora

Yidong Li

Yu Wu

Ziyuan Zhu

China

Singleton

Marwan Hamama

France

GUEST CABIN

Dóra Benedek

Gábor Ábrahám

Hungary

Out of the hill

Eveline Lam

Simon Christensen

Canada

Longhouse

Noah Cai

Canada

Iceland thermal springs guest house

Giacomo Spanio

Paolo Reali

Sergiu Cernea

Nicola Puppin

IUAV University of Venice

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Italy

The Frame

Bassel Omara

Egypt

Turf Guest House Resort

Suzan Calisir

Federico Repetto

Martino felice Curcunia

Italy

Double House

Juan Sala

Douglas Harsevoort

Sala Hars

United States

iceland guesthouse

Riaan Huiskens

South Africa

Among the Elements

Sergio Sanfilippo

Alberto Bruno

Jacopo Consoli

Italy

Grjotagja Guest House

Nick Chadde

Raíza Costa Chadde

Switzerland

Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House

Nicholas Houser

James Hardt

United States

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Sergi Viñals Musquera

Anna Mirapeix Gresa

Spain

Black Rock Guesthouse

Simon George

Netherlands

The Yule Lads' HOUSE

Bogdan Bondarenko

Maryna Biletska

Kostiantyn Bondarenko

Sofiia Novokreshchenova

Maryna Biletska

Kostiantyn Bondarenko

Sofiia Novokreshchenova

Ukraine

The Granhalle

Ana Belčič

Klara Prošek

Slovenia

Northern Lights Guesthouse

Mattias Dahlberg

Annapaola Busnardo

Dahlberg Busnardo

Sweden

ICELAND THERMAL SPRINGS GUEST HOUSE

Lars Becker

Germany

Long House

Timothee Mercier

United States

The Green Wall

Simone Boldrin

Germany

Iceland Crystal Guest House

Sebastian Serna de los rios

Colombia

SAILING SEASONS GUESTHOUSE

Nuttapol Techopitch

Looklen Architects Co., Ltd.

Thailand