International Architecture Competition

Iceland Thermal
Springs Guest House

Results

Foreword

Competition organisers

Iceland Thermal 
Springs Guest House

Official Partners

Iceland Thermal 
Springs Guest House

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.

1st Prize Winner

Project name

Converse Guest House

Authors

Eric Gonzales

United States

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

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

Jury feedback summary

This winning project offers two primary structures which are in many ways inverses of one another, both formally in plan and functionally in use. One structure serves as the 'private' house with guest rooms and an interior court space. A second structure serves as the 'public' house with common areas for the gathering of guests. Using photographic imagery of models and clearly-represented plans, the two square-plan buildings are a yin and yang, balancing one another across a common boardwalk leading to a heated pool and fireplace. The wood-filled interiors hint at warm and welcoming spaces in a harsh, albeit beautiful landscape. The jury was impressed by the submission's conceptual clarity.

2nd Prize Winner

Project name

SAILING SEASONS GUESTHOUSE

Authors

Nuttapol Techopitch

Company

Looklen architects co., ltd.

Thailand

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

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.

Jury feedback summary

'Sailing Seasons' is an especially forward-thinking project. A series of guesthouses are set on a raised foundation of rails to preserve the nature of the existing site. Hinting at total flexibility, the houses are mobile and can be relocated as necessary along the linear rails, for a closer and more communal group of guests, or more scattered and private setting. The organization can also be suited to open up the site for outdoor activities and sunlight. The jury would have liked to review the details of this system; it believes, however, in the possibility of this idea being realized successfully, with the correct materials and engineering.

3rd Prize Winner

Project name

Singleton

Authors

Marwan Hamama

France

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

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.

Jury feedback summary

'Singleton' is a linear trifecta of programs made of stone gabion external walls, steel framing, and wood interiors. This use of locally-sourced volcanic stone strongly links the site with the building. Two perimeter enclosures contain guestrooms on one side; on the other, an interior thermal bath, communal spaces, a reception zone, and technical areas. The form of the building slopes toward the perimeter to offer large, angled exterior walls for ample views of the site and skies. The central strip houses an exterior thermal bath and garden. The jury was attracted by the strong balance of verticality and horizontality in this project. It wonders, how would the enclosed exterior gardens function in Iceland's long, cold, and dark, winter?

BB STUDENT AWARD

Project name

OUTPOST

Authors

Shuting Zhang
Jiakun He

University

Leibniz universität hannover
+72 points Buildner University Rankings!

China

BB GREEN AWARD

Project name

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Authors

Sergi Viñals Musquera
Anna Mirapeix Gresa

Spain

Why do you enter architecture
competitions?

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

Honorable mentions

VIEWclose HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Project Name

Learning from Iceland

Country

Germany

Project authors

Matthias Pabst
Martin Meier

Project Name

Icelandic rooms

University

Faculty of architecture but - fa vut
+72 points Buildner University Rankings!

Country

Czech Republic

Project authors

David Erik Bernatek
Adam Repaský

Project Name

Northern Lights Guesthouse

Company

Dahlberg busnardo

Country

Sweden

Project authors

Mattias Dahlberg
Annapaola Busnardo

Project Name

Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House

Country

United States

Project authors

Nicholas Houser
James Hardt

Project Name

Longhouse

Country

Canada

Project authors

Noah Cai

Project Name

Iceland Thermal Springs

Country

Brazil

Project authors

Marcelo Moura
Marina Dipre
Victoria Greenman
Alberto Botafogo

Shortlisted projects

VIEWclose Shortlisted projects

Australia

University of Canberra

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
patrick kolodziejczyk

United Kingdom

kelly bowers
taylor grindley

Romania

georgeana buran
adriana paula panturu

Brazil

marcelo moura
marina dipre
victoria greenman
alberto botafogo

United States

petra stanev
shannon mclain
taylor parchinski

South Korea

Kaywon University of Art & Design

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
jane lee
eunhye kim
jingyu maeng

United States

taylan tekeli
gokdeniz cetin

Czech Republic

Faculty of Architecture BUT - FA VUT

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
david erik bernatek
adam repaský

South Korea

Kaywon University of Art & Design

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
junphil park
jaewoong lee

Italy

giuseppe pastonesi
desislava georgieva
aleksandra todorova
nina gerosa

United States

jessica santaniello barrera
javier barrera
cristina cusco
jessica tsiris

Switzerland

walter hjaltested
caterina decker

United Kingdom

melanie schubert
sandi johnen
piervito pirulli

United States

ted porter
gong chen
jorg thoene
noelia linares

China

Leibniz University Hannover, Leibniz Universität Hannover

+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
shuting zhang
jiakun he

Hungary

dóra benedek
gábor Ábrahám

Italy

Università Iuav di Venezia IUAV

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
giacomo spanio
paolo reali
sergiu cernea
nicola puppin

Italy

suzan calisir
federico repetto
martino felice curcunia

United States

Sala hars

juan sala
douglas harsevoort

Italy

sergio sanfilippo
alberto bruno
jacopo consoli

Switzerland

nick chadde
raíza costa chadde

United States

nicholas houser
james hardt

Spain

sergi viñals musquera
anna mirapeix gresa

Ukraine

bogdan bondarenko
maryna biletska
kostiantyn bondarenko
sofiia novokreshchenova
maryna biletska
kostiantyn bondarenko
sofiia novokreshchenova

Sweden

Dahlberg busnardo

mattias dahlberg
annapaola busnardo

United States

GSAPP, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture

+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
timothee mercier

Thailand

Looklen architects co., ltd.

nuttapol techopitch
 

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