SITE
Kársnes is a dynamic peninsula nestled within Kópavogur, Iceland. It is known for its evolving urban landscape that harmoniously blends modern architecture with Iceland’s breathtaking natural beauty, and it’s home to many of the municipality’s cultural institutions.
This burgeoning district offers scenic waterfront promenades, innovative residential developments, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and sea, inviting visitors to a unique fusion of nature and urban experience.
PROGRAM
The competition seeks innovative designs for the Renewable Energy Research Center of Iceland a visionary project dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions and engaging the public in environmental stewardship. Encompassing a total area of 10,000 sqm, the center will be thoughtfully crafted to facilitate research, education, and community interaction.
The design should embody sustainability and innovation, creating a landmark that not only propels renewable energy research forward but also educates and inspires the community about the critical importance of sustainable practices for the future of Iceland and the world.
Iceland is renowned for its utilization of geothermal, wind and solar energy and its strong commitment to renewable resources. This project involves designing a state-of-the-art Renewable Energy Research Center in Reykjavik. The center will serve as a hub for scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs dedicated to advancing renewable energy technologies, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.
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RENEWABLE HORIZON: An Architectural Manifesto for Iceland’s Energy Future
Our project, Renewable Horizon, is conceived as a landmark building and landscape dedicated to renewable energy research, education, and innovation. Set on the stunning coastline of Kársnes, the architecture emerges as a dialogue between the forces of nature—wind, sun, and earth—and human ingenuity. More than just a research facility, this center is designed as an iconic, living interface between science and the public, an architecture of integration, performance, and meaning.
The design is incorporate sustainable materials and strategies to shoot for a net-zero energy consumption building. By utilizing renewable energy sources like geothermal, solar, and wind power, the building will exemplify environmental stewardship. It‘s seamlessly integrate with the natural surroundings, minimizing ecological impact while standing resilient against Iceland’s harsh weather conditions. The center will not only be a place of research and learning but also an iconic landmark representing Iceland’s commitment to a sustainable future.
Iceland is renowned for its utilization of geothermal, wind and solar energy and its strong commitment to renewable resources. This project involves designing a state-of-the-art Renewable Energy Research Center in Reykjavik. The center will serve as a hub for scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs dedicated to advancing renewable energy technologies, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. |
1. An Iconic Figure, Shaped by the Elements
From its very form, the center aims to become a visible symbol of Iceland’s commitment to sustainable futures, rising as a geometrically powerful yet landscape-rooted figure. Inspired by Iceland’s natural forms—cliffs, glaciers, volcanic folds—the building is shaped by a large triangular roof that emerges from the ground to cover and protect the spaces beneath.
This sloped roof performs as a technological and ecological surface: part vegetal, echoing Icelandic turf-roofs, and part solar collector covered in photovoltaic panels precisely oriented to capture sunlight throughout the day.
The overall gesture creates a unified, fluid architecture, simultaneously a landmark and an extension of the land itself, designed to resist the extreme climate—strong winds, heavy rains, and salt-laden air—while blending seamlessly into the coastal horizon.
2. A Clear Functional Structure: Science, Public, Community
Renewable Horizon is organized into three main functional strata, clearly expressing the center’s mission of research, education, and public engagement:
- The Ground Level (Research Foundation):
The lower level houses all research and technical functions: labs, workshops, storage, and mechanical rooms. It is also home to a permanent exhibition on geothermal energy, where a deep vertical shaft offers a visceral, spatial experience of Iceland’s underground power. This level is both protected and anchored, giving scientists a secluded and controlled environment to conduct cutting-edge research.
- The Horizon Level (Public Realm):
Raised to align with the best sea views, the main exhibition hall and auditorium are located on the first floor (R+1). This level acts as the heart of the visitor experience, showcasing renewable energy technologies and Iceland’s leadership in sustainable innovation. A generous public plaza, partly sheltered under the rising roof, serves as an open forum for community gathering, lectures, and events.
- The Cloud Level (Knowledge and Innovation Cluster):
Above the public space, a layer of smaller volumes hosts research offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, and collaborative spaces. Inspired by maritime containers and referencing Iceland’s port culture, these volumes create a village-like cluster suspended under the roof, encouraging exchange between researchers, students, and the public.
3. Staging Renewable Energies: An Educational and Experiential Path
The entire project is conceived as a three-dimensional exhibition of Iceland’s three main renewable energies:
- Wind: As visitors approach, they traverse a landscape garden planted with grasses shaped by prevailing winds, punctuated by three wind turbines of varying designs and capacities. This creates an immersive introduction to wind energy, linking landscape and technology.
- Solar: The roof’s photovoltaic system is designed as a living laboratory, its performance visible and readable by visitors. Integrated data displays allow real-time monitoring, transforming the building into an active educational tool.
- Geothermal: Within the sunken exhibition, a geothermal shaft allows visitors to physically and conceptually descend into Iceland’s volcanic core, experiencing both the heat and the depth of this invisible energy.
Together, these elements offer a seamless and engaging visitor experience, transforming scientific knowledge into tangible, spatial narratives.
4. Resilient, Sustainable, Integrated into the Land
The project is designed as a net-zero building, utilizing solar, wind, and geothermal energy to power itself. The roof’s structural system not only supports photovoltaic arrays but also facilitates rainwater collection for reuse. Locally sourced, durable materials—including treated wood, basalt stone, and weathering steel—ensure long-term resilience in Iceland’s harsh climate.
5. A Civic Landmark and Community Space
Renewable Horizon is not only a research and exhibition center but also a civic place for Icelandic society. Its public spaces—auditorium, plaza, café, gardens—invite community involvement, hosting events, workshops, and public debates on sustainability and innovation.
