Norðurfjörður
Shoreline intervention in Noðurfjörður in Árneshreppur.
In this project, I've explored architecture in relation to the ecosystem, intertwining it with the area's rich history and natural surroundings. The area's richness lies in the wood material drifting to its shores from the rivers of Siberia and the rocks and stones that have been there since the land formed. These locally-sourced materials form the focal point of my architectural approach in this project.
My goal is to interpret and cater to the needs of animals, plants, humans, and other organisms in the area while incorporating historical themes in the design for the inhabitants and visitors.
I propose a design that serves both the local community and arriving visitors, consisting of six elements: a path, drying house, bathhouse, boat workshop, a bench, and lastly, six mountain ash trees.
The path stretches about 250 meters and is composed of rammed fine gravel and stones. As visitors approach from the end of the harbor where the ferry docks, they encounter a gravel path leading through a unique outdoor structure – a dry house for flowers meticulously crafted from driftwood found on local shorelines.
Meandering along the coastline, the path grants glimpses of untouched rough cliffs, facing the cold blue Nordic ocean, evoking a sense of the pre-evolutionary natural world. Further ahead, the path diverges. One route invites visitors to walk down a ramp into a bathhouse that opens to the ocean, while the alternative path, ground level, guides them through a captivating building.
As visitors traverse the building, they find themselves halfway to the town, offering a clear view of the town itself and two farms amidst the fjord. The journey continues through another driftwood structure, where the acoustic changes subtly within its triangle shape. Now on the other side of the building, the gravel path transitions to pavement, leading towards the end of the road.
At this terminus, two pieces of driftwood balance atop stones, forming a picturesque bench. From this vantage point, captivating views of the majestic mountain Reykjaneshyrna in the far southeast and Urðartindur's straight lines lie ahead. Nestled amid a few mountain ash trees, a gentle stream flows, originating from Krossnesfjall in the background and elegantly dissolving into the ocean beneath the path.
This serene path finally concludes in the quaint town of Norðurfjörður. Each of the structures along the path possesses its own unique character, exhibiting different sizes and distinct ways of treating the wood, adding to the charm and diversity of the picturesque journey.
