An ice-cube of a building, standing tall like an iceberg in Iceland is quite the object of attention and unsurprisingly so. And what with the building being Green and using glass rather generously to achieve this end, it is indeed an architectural marvel.

This building has been erected at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History at Gardabaer, Iceland, a public institution conducting diverse research and monitoring of nature. Research is focused on botany, ecology, taxonomy geology and zoology.

This new building hosts offices for 50 scientists, features a library and a specimen collection, and is part of a much larger master plan for the Urridaholt development, which is sweeping up awards for both architecture and sustainability.

This research facility was designed by the Icelandic firm ARKÍS. It is spread over a site area of 5.199 m2 and with 3.515 m2 as its gross floor area. Built of concrete encased in fritted glass, it gives the impression of a glacier in the Arctic region when the sun shines bright.

Interestingly, the architecture of the institute is inspired by the bodies of insects and the nearby Mount Keilir, which is mirrored prominently in the front of the building. The building is divided into three parts by two fissures that visually reduce the building mass and communicate the gradual rhythm and human scale of the streetscape.

The fissures contain glass-walled walkways highlighted by bright green walls that break up the office environment for employees as they walk from one part of the building to another. The primary use of the fissures is to provide the institute’s employees with breaks from the office environment on their way through the building. When passing through the fissures, one comes into strong visual contact with the surrounding elements - light, weather, sky and horizon.

Flitter Glass

The upper floors of the building are enveloped in a double-glazed facade that assists the building’s natural ventilation scheme, day-lighting and weather shielding. The glass used for this building is fritted with a specially designed pattern that resembles the formation of ice crystals. The crystallized pattern on the glass facade diffuses light as it enters the building, reducing both - glare from the harsh northern sunlight as well as heat gain. Glass gives a most spectacular view of the surroundings.

Sustainable Features

Sustainable design features of this building include a sustainable drainage system running in and around the site. Permeable surfaces for parking and swales for filtering and slowing down the flow of surface water are also provided in this building. The building’s green roof is laid with local turf and moss, and serves as a filtering mechanism for rainwater, as added insulation and a natural habitat for birds and native insects.

The double facade facilitates natural ventilation. Each office is equipped with at least two operable windows - upper and lower, improving the flow of fresh air through the space, from the air gap of the double facade.

Honours

The master plan for Urridaholt development has received numerous international recognitions and awards for planning and advanced sustainability measures, including the Award of the Boston Society of Architects and the Nordegrio Award. It also received the second prize at the 2007 LivCom Awards.