Iceland Movie Pavilion

An Iconic Beacon in the Landscape

Taking the Icelandic phrase 'Raðljóst - Enough Light to See By', as inspiration for the concept for a new Movie Pavilion, Heta's design seeks to create a striking ephemeral object in the Landscape, that is an iconic, shimmering beacon of light, guiding people to their evening’s entertainment or day’s excursion, transformational in its form and responsive to the climatic setting. Like a chameleon in the landscape.

Project Details

Category: Architecture / Cultural / Sustainability
Location: Iceland
Status: Competition

Iceland is a place of contrasts, the archetypal land of ‘Ice & Fire’, many spectacular contrasts occur within the nature and over the seasons; from carved ice forms, set against a backdrop of a naturally forming settled volcanic ash, which sit in contrast to sparse green moss type growth creeping over a solidified volcanic earth layer.

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Flat lands punctuated by sudden volcanic up-thrusts through tectonic cracks, with dramatic skies washing overall, transitioning from day into night with the dramatic transformative aurora borealis light display.

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An Iconic Beacon

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The buildings outer form seeks to reflect these dramatic changes in setting by reflecting the glowing light displays in the glazed outer skin.

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The scalloped organic glazed outer bracelet like form, contrasts with an even more dramatic ‘kaleidoscopic interior’, where solid ‘rammed earth’ pumice walls rise up out of the ground acting as structural support to the green roof above, while cavities in the walls that descend into the volcanic substrate and the earth below create a geo-thermal solution for self-generating heating and hot water.

A series of inner sanctum spaces is formed, where more contemplative experiences take place, a central chamber for performing arts and more contemplative art

Ascending towards the outer spaces and the movie theatre, café and entertaining spaces, where all are opened up to specific oriented views outside.

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A folding acoustic curtain transforms the forum space into a fully operational cinema acting as dual purpose space. The theatrical experience of the inner spatial configuration befitting the content within, withholding and then revealing, where the play of light, contrast and form is experienced through a procession of spaces, to consume the visitor within this jewel like pavilion.