The winning ideas for a Thermal Springs Guest House in Northern Iceland

The Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House architecture competition sought designs for an exclusive guest house for the Vogafjós Farm Resort, a family-owned guest home located on the eastern coast of Lake Mývatn in Northern Iceland.

The design had to feature 8-10 guest rooms that would each offers views of the surrounding Iceland landscape and the Aurora Borealis, and had to emphasize sustainability and cost-effectiveness in building techniques. 

After evaluating all the submissions, the jury selected three prize winners, a BB Student Award winner, a BB Green Prize Award winner, and six Honorable Mentions. All the winning designs will be considered for the construction of the guest house. 

Check out some of the winning ideas below!

1st prize: Converse Guest House
Project author: Eric Gonzales | United States

Jury comment: “This winning project offers two primary structures which are in many ways inverses of one another, both formally in plan and functionally in use. One structure serves as the 'private' house with guest rooms and an interior court space. A second structure serves as the 'public' house with common areas for the gathering of guests. Using photographic imagery of models and clearly-represented plans, the two square-plan buildings are a yin and yang, balancing one another across a common boardwalk leading to a heated pool and fireplace. The wood-filled interiors hint at warm and welcoming spaces in a harsh, albeit beautiful landscape. The jury was impressed by the submission's conceptual clarity.”

2nd prize: Sailing Seasons Guesthouse.
Project author: Nuttapol Techopitch.
Company: Looklen Architects Co. | Thailand

Jury commentary: “'Sailing Seasons' is an especially forward-thinking project. A series of guesthouses are set on a raised foundation of rails to preserve the nature of the existing site. Hinting at total flexibility, the houses are mobile and can be relocated as necessary along the linear rails, for a closer and more communal group of guests, or more scattered and private setting. The organization can also be suited to open up the site for outdoor activities and sunlight. The jury would have liked to review the details of this system; it believes, however, in the possibility of this idea being realized successfully, with the correct materials and engineering.”

3rd prize: Singleton.
Project author: Marwan Hamama | France

Jury comment: “'Singleton' is a linear trifecta of programs made of stone gabion external walls, steel framing, and wood interiors. This use of locally-sourced volcanic stone strongly links the site with the building. Two perimeter enclosures contain guestrooms on one side; on the other, an interior thermal bath, communal spaces, a reception zone, and technical areas. The form of the building slopes toward the perimeter to offer large, angled exterior walls for ample views of the site and skies. The central strip houses an exterior thermal bath and garden. The jury was attracted by the strong balance of verticality and horizontality in this project. It wonders, how would the enclosed exterior gardens function in Iceland's long, cold, and dark, winter?”

BB Green Award: Under the Northern Lights.
Project authors: Sergi Viñals Musquera, Anna Mirapeix Gresa | Spain

BB Student Award: Outpost
Project authors: Shuting Zhang, Jiakun He
University: Leibniz Universität Hannover | China

You can find the Honorable Mentions and more about the prize-winning entries here.