OUT OF THE GROUND
2023 Fall
Buildner Student Award Recipient
Partner: Nathan Ehrlich, Alex Pina
Project Type: Design Competition
The “ground” is a varied and intricate condition on which the Iceland Beer Spa for the Sel Hotel is situated on. Pragmatiaclly, the “ground” condition of the site stems from the understanding of Icelandic Turf Houses that ultilize stone foundations as a method to isolate moisture. Metaphorically, the “ground” condition of the craters in the area becomes an important characteric where the beer spa acts as an extension of the topography, rising up while reflecting the area’s landscapes. Architecturally, these two conditions co-exists while creating a clear datum that separates the two: an extension of the foundation that serves as a solid foundation while the undulating roof echoes the surrounding landscape and highlights moments of collective activities with skylights. Eager to engage with the street on the first level, inverse geometries of the roof are carved into the facade of the beer spa, which creates moments of entry as well as provides breathtaking views of the surrounding craters. “Out of the Ground” as an architectural intervention establishes a series of therapeutic spaces that directly draw connections to the existing condition of the site and the Myvatn Lake area.