Hof Residence, Iceland Home: Icelandic House

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Hof Residence Iceland Architecture

Iceland Residential Building design by Studio Granda Architects

post updated 10 July 2021 ; 3 Feb 2010

Hof Residence

Location: Skakafjordur fjord, Iceland

Date built: 2004-07

Design: Studio Granda

Hof Residence Skakafjordur fjord, Iceland

Hof is a country residence in the Skakafjördur fjord, less than 100km from the Arctic Circle. The spectacle of the location, its remoteness and special program fuelled a unique rapport between the client, contractor and architect resulting in a building that is in every respect a direct consequence of that collaboration.

Hof Residence Skakafjordur fjord, Iceland

The buildings on the estate include a house, church, barn and cowshed, clustered on a riverbank, and further inland stables and an equestrian training hall. The fjörd is a serene landscape punctuated only by the sheer cliffs of the islands Drangey and Málmey and the headland Thórdarhöfdi. Set slightly apart from the existing buildings, the new residence is located on raised ground with each space orientated to capture this magnificent panorama.

Hof Residence Skakafjordur fjord, Iceland

Externally the house rises from the tufted site as a series of sheer cedar and concrete walls that will weather according to the vagaries of the elements. The displaced grass of the field is reinstated on the roof and the surrounding meadow is cut and folded in earthworks of turf and stone that open ways to the entrance and terraces.

Hexagonal basalt pillars were excavated from the site during the preparations for the foundations and the external surfaces are paved in this material. Internally the same stone is used throughout the living and circulation areas. Telegraph poles salvaged from the site were used as a sun/privacy screen to south-facing windows.

Hof Residence Skakafjordur fjord, Iceland

Most internal walls are of raw or painted concrete and the ceilings, doors and other carpentry are predominately of oiled sawn oak with steel details; a rustic palette offset by smooth painted planes. In a gesture of refinement and escape the kitchen and bathrooms enjoy marble surfaces suggestive of more habitable latitudes whereas the larder’s glazed white tiles and basalt shelves reminds of the need to stash food for harsh winters.

Hof Residence Hof Residence Hof Residence Hof Residence

The house is highly insulated and thermally stable due to the massive concrete walls, stone floors and balanced fenestration. Geothermal water is used for the floor heating and radiators as well as for all domestic use. Electricity use is minimised by design and the little that is required is sourced from hydroelectric and geothermal sources.

Although dramatic views fill the interior the ambience is augmented by a secondary system of clearstory lights and other roof penetrations that orchestrate daylight throughout the house. The exception is the dogleg route between the living and bedroom wings where lighting is reduced to a few pinpricks.

Iceland house Iceland home Iceland residence Iceland property

Hof Residence – Building Information

Client : Lilja Pálmadóttir & Baltasar Kormákur Baltasarsson
Architects : Studio Granda
Structural & environmental engineers : Vídsjá
Electrical services : VJÍ
Contractor : Trésmidan Borg

Hof Residence images / information from Studio Granda

Location: Skakafjordur, Iceland, north west Europe

Iceland Architecture

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Iceland Buildings – Selection

Recent Icelandic building design by Studio Granda on e-architect:

Supreme Court building
Studio Granda
Iceland Supreme Court
photo : Sigurgeir Sigurjonsson
Icelandic building

Recent Icelandic property featured on e-architect:

Vacation Cottages, Brekkuskógur
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photographs : Rafael Pinho, Bjarni Kristinson
Vacation Cottages in Brekkuskogur

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image Courtesy architecture office
Gufunes Development in Reykjavik

The Icelandic National Concert & Conference Centre, Reykjavik
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Comments or building suggestions / photos for the Icelandic Property design by Studio Granda Architects page welcome