Project
Volcano Horsemen Retreat
Category
Best Project of Public Building or Facility
About the project (provided by the applicant)
In northern Iceland, off traditional tourist routes, a dormant volcano silently rises above its own horizon against breathtaking resin-colored landscapes.
This is Hrossaborg, or the “Horse Castle”: a ring whose west-facing walls form a natural enclosure historically used — as the name suggests — for herders and their horses.
The horseshoe — a symbol of hoof protection — gains volume, becoming a refuge for both humans and horses in the wild, untamed environment. The open horseshoe shape follows the morphology of Hrossaborg, whose walls were eroded by river flow. The terrain, shaped by natural processes, inspires the architectural form: in plan, it mimics a horseshoe, while in volume it evokes the volcano itself.
The enclosed volume creates an inner courtyard, used for horseback riding and visitor recreation. The roof slope merges with the landscape, creating spaces for walking and play.
Location
Summit of Hrossaborg, Iceland
Project design year
2024
Project website
https://www.behance.net/gallery/217487767/Volcano-Horsemen-Retreat
Applicant
Elena Aleksandrovna Samchenko
Architect, researcher, graduate of UrGAHU
Authors of the project
Elena Aleksandrovna Samchenko, Ekaterina Nikolaevna Yakovleva, Mark Vitalievich Rais
Visualization
Elena Aleksandrovna Samchenko, Ekaterina Nikolaevna Yakovleva, Mark Vitalievich Rais
Status of the project
Conceptual design
