Summer house in Iceland

The summer recreational house harmoniously blends into the surrounding landscape by integrating into the foothill and its green roof, which seems to be a continuation of the grassy area of the hill. The house is built on the western slope of the Midfell mountain in the southern part of Iceland. The task was to design a house that fits into the surrounding nature and provides its residents the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views of the surroundings as much as possible. The layout of the house uses the principle of Socrates' house, i.e., the entire western front is glazed to absorb as much afternoon sunlight as possible, while the rear eastern side is partially embedded into the hill. Behind the glazed area is the living space with a kitchen and dining area. The rooms and bedrooms are only partially illuminated. An indoor and outdoor fireplace is designed with a shared chimney, placed on the front wall. Its stone cladding is another element that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape. The interior spaces feature exposed ceiling beams. Along with other elements – the fireplace and carpets – it gives the interior a warm and traditional home feel. Lightness in the space can be found in the interior furnishings – e.g., dining table, lighting fixtures, lightweight chairs.