PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Freestanding in its context, the Hverfjall Kaffihús is conceived as a “Forged Promenade.” The scheme involves a circular plan-form that defines a precise focal point within a vast, barren landscape to establish a clear connection between this new structure and the volcano. The coffee shop and visitor center wrap around a courtyard circumscribing an existing lava rock formation defining the center of the configuration. Gently sloping from east to west, a sculpted roof rests atop a programmatic “spine” housing the coffee bar, auxiliary spaces, exhibition hall, and visitor center. One enters via the main (west) entrance of the coffee shop, where they can purchase a beverage, head east to the exhibition hall, and exit out onto the courtyard, where they are confronted with a panoramic view of Hverfjall. The sweeping form of the roof outlines a south-facing concave glass wall that extends vertically from floor to ceiling, maximizing views from the interior to the volcano and surrounding the courtyard.