Grjótagjá Trail – a project of a movie pavilion designed by WUT students has received an honourable mention in the Iceland Movie Pavilion Competition.

The competition organised by the Bulidner platform sought the best designs for a movie pavilion in the Grjótagjá cave region located near Lake Mývatn in northern Iceland. The proposals were to reflect the essence of Icelandic cinema, its distinctive character and its unique history, as well as offer a place where visitors could meet and share their passion for cinematography and Iceland.

The jury awarded an honourable mention to the Grjótagjá Trail project designed by two students of the Faculty of Architecture WUT. Maja Dziwok is a student of the English medium Bachelor’s studies in her final year while Alexandra Dectot is a first-year student doing a Master’s programme at ENSA Paris-Val de Seine, who is studying at our University as part of the Erasmus exchange. Their main intention in the project was to invite visitors to the pavilion to immerse in the island’s nature.

The students proposed to create a path which is an alternative to the existing trail starting near the  Grjótagjá caves and leading through the volcanic landscape to Lake Mývatn.

A cafe interior with a view of a volcano, project authors: Maja Dziwok, Alexandra Dectot

The designed pavilion is located at the very beginning of the trail. The building consists of two blocks. Depending on the room's function, the tilted roofs increase or restrict access to natural light. This trick facilitates creating a light space in an open cafe and ensuring a distinctive cinematic atmosphere in the second block, which houses a cinema.

The Grjótagjá Trail project, project authors: Maja Dziwok, Alexandra Dectot

A large window covering the entire width of the café wall provides natural light all year round and a view of the Hverfjall volcano. – The window acts as a screen which offers another type of a spectacle to the visitors - an insight into the constantly changing Icelandic landscape – said the students.

An open staircase leading visitors underground is placed right at the entrance to the pavilion. The underground part contains an exhibition space and a conference room, which are both lit from above bringing to mind Icelandic caves or craters.

Exhibition space, project authors: Maja Dziwok, Alexandra Dectot

The structure of the building is inspired by traditional Icelandic peat houses. The main structure is a wooden construction filled with a thermo-insulating material with tilted roofs covered with plants. With the rough and dark charred wood on the facade and its simple form, the building seamlessly fits into the surroundings, while the light plywood finishes in the interiors add cosiness.

Source: Architektura i Biznes.