Sp(r)int Studio has restored and extended a 1950s timber structure sheltering Viking-era ruins in Iceland. The renovated building, set to open next month, features a polycarbonate roof and blends into the surrounding landscape.
The Stรถng archaeological site contains ruins of a Viking longhouse and farm settlement. Sp(r)int Studio preserved and restored the original timber structure, reinforcing it with galvanised steel frames.
“The complexity of the project lay in working around the highly sensitive ruins and reusing the original structure,” says Karl Kvaran, Cofounder, Sp(r)int Studio. “Technical precision was essential to preserve the architectural dynamics.”
The renovated shelter features:
– A polycarbonate roof topping the gabled structure
– Larch wood slats cladding the exterior to blend with the landscape
– An outdoor observation deck offering views of the ruins
– A four-metre-long extension forming an entrance space and elevated viewing platform
– A window providing a view of the ruins from an outdoor deck
The project aimed to create a thoughtful dialogue between past and present. “The building emerges as a testament to a sensitive architectural approach,” says Sp(r)int Studio.
The renovation was showcased in an exhibition at DesignMarch festival in Reykjavik, highlighting the collaboration between architecture and archaeology.
Image Courtesy: Dezeen
