PROJECT REPORT: CULTURAL, CIVIC & FAITH BUILDINGS 35
surrounding protected landscape. Meanwhile, UK-based architectural practice Nissen Richards Studio had been approached by Karl Kvaran of Sp(r)int Studio in Iceland with an idea that the two could work together on joint pitches in the Nordic region, based on their “similar practice ethos and sensibility,” explains Pippa Nissen, director and co-founder of Nissen Richards Studio. “We got on very well, and agreed to the idea of fi nding work we could do together.” Based in Iceland, it was Kvaran who came across the opportunity to bid for the project; and suggested they jointly pursue it.
Going remote
While the national parks of Iceland are undeniably popular with visitors, numbers are considerably lower in the winter months, with the country often experiencing sub zero temperatures and extreme weather events – particularly in remote areas such as Mývatn. Even in the summer months, temperatures only average between 10 and 15 degrees, making a comfortable indoor environment an
essential part of the experience. The key overall element of the brief, therefore, was to “create a place that could offer shelter, especially in more challenging weather,” explains Nissen. “A place that would provide a focus at the centre of the landscape and also a place that would unpack the fascinating geography, geology and ecology of the immediate landscape.” It was also important to all involved in the project that this be accessible to visitors of all ages, “with a special focus on family groups,” adds Nissen.
While the remote location formed the key design cues, it concurrently presented a unique set of challenges to Nissen Richards Studio. “This was one of the most challenging locations we have ever dealt with in that it was so diffi cult to access, not only for us but for the wider team,” Nissen explains. For the UK team, getting to site meant
a fl ight to Reykjavik, followed by an internal fl ight and a long car journey. The project had a deadline in that it needed to be fi nished in time for the busy summer seasons, meaning construction had to take
“This was one of the most challenging locations we have ever dealt with in that it was so diffi cult to access” Pippa Nissen, Nissen Richards Studio
ADF JULY/AUGUST 2026
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