Holiday house in Iceland

This holiday home on the south coast of Iceland has a central courtyard sheltered and bordered by a pair of wooden volumes and a terrace with a panoramic view of a lake nearby.
The Reykjavik-based architecture studio, Gláma Kím, designed the house on a site on a ridge next to a deep and rugged ravine, beyond which rises a steep rock face. The elevated location of the building gives it a breathtaking view of the lake towards a mountain range to the north, and even more impressive mountain scenery that surround it to the south and west. The design aims to amplify this beautiful site by framing the views of the interior and exterior of the house. The layout of the internal and external spaces of the building is a direct response to the decor, and designed to optimize the sun.

The property consists of three rectangular blocks arranged around an outdoor area facing south, with a cedar roof connecting the different interior spaces. The central volume contains a kitchen and a living room that opens onto the terrace. This concrete structure incorporates large glazed surfaces on both sides. At each end of the central volume is a cedar wing containing bedrooms and guest rooms. A cedar awning that extends from the inside edge of the living space connects with the guest wing and creates a sheltered area between these volumes. The master bedroom is located next to the living room and has a fully glazed wall that offers views of the landscape from the bed. The materials are used to delineate different functional areas, as well as to connect internal and external spaces.