MARINO THORLACIUS ADD TO COLLECTION The holiday home is carefully placed on a densely overgrown hill that slopes northward towards the great Lake Þingvallavatn in southwestern Iceland. The unique landscape has influenced the design of the building, which blends harmoniously with its surroundings.
In harmony with the terrain, the concrete foundation of the wooden house is structured in three staggered planes that follow the natural contours of the land. Similarly, the roof surface is covered in local grass and moss, sloping partly towards and partly with the hill.
The location of the house has been meticulously chosen to seamlessly integrate with the environment while offering carefully framed views of the surrounding landscape. To the north, the house rises above the low scrub, providing an unobstructed view of Þingvallavatn and the majestic Skjaldbreið mountain from the main room. On the opposite side, the main room opens onto a south-west-facing terrace, nestled amidst the surrounding trees. From here, one can simultaneously admire the Jórutindur and Hátindur mountains while gazing through the house towards the lake.
The immediate surroundings of the building, aside from the terrace, are densely vegetated, creating an almost impenetrable environment. Preserving the pristine landscape was a key focus during both the design process and the construction of the house. As a result, the greened roof serves as an accessible plane. Access to the roof can be gained from inside the house’s sleep- and play loft, or from outside where the slope begins at the integrated boat shed. Ascending to the top of the roof’s edge above the trees, one is greeted by a magnificent and ever-changing panorama of the lake and the surrounding mountains.
