Wrap In Time, Whisper of the Past

Competition Entry, 2024
Collaborator: Shengjie Qiu

Located in Northern Iceland, branching a few kilometres off of Iceland’s famous No.1 highway, we were impressed by the scale and beauty of the Horssaborg Crater, solemnly standing in the middle of a soil field; a circular monument carved by time. The Horssaborg Crater has undergone multiple transformations—once a nearly perfect circle, it now presents a fractured form, distorted by flooding, with an opening to the east. Through the long history of the Horssaborg Crater, we found ourselves drawn to its past, curious about the landscape before it was distorted. This is where our narrative unfolds. Our intervention is reminiscent of the crater’s previously enclosed shape, designing an architecture that not only visually blends in with the landscape, but also forms a physical threshold to connect to the east opening.

Our design concept is twofold: the first part is the elongated two-storey form of the Horsemen Retreat Centre, with its rooftop serving as a pedestrian bridge that connects the eastern opening of the crater. The second is inspired by the wrapping forms of L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped by Christo & Jeanne-Claude and Golden Wrapped Palaces by Daniel Szalai. We were intrigued by the expression of wrapping fabric—how it behaves when meeting the sharp corner of an ornament, the tension at an anchor point, and the wrinkles that form as it falls from a vertical surface. To explore these expressions, we are imagining an artificial landscape in the form of an impermanent volcano wall, designed to piece back together the missing portion of the Horssaborg Crater. The fabric, draped over various rotated cubic balloons, is made to appear both present and absent, evoking the sculptural shape of the crater’s landscape. It is a play of light and dark, solid and fluid — a juxtaposition of the stark black solid field and white translucent fabric that hovers on top of the architecture.

Facade
The facade is divided into three horizontal bands. The middle portion, at eye level, is intentionally opaque, flanked by glazing above and below. The bottom band is 1.2 metres high, aligning with the shoulder height of someone sitting down. The act of seating creates a resonance with the landscape. At the same time, the light first filters through the fabric outside before gently spilling into the interior through the top band.
Material
The material palette is deliberately pared down, with glazing, light concrete, and semi-translucent fabric designed to contrast with the rich colours of the surrounding landscape. Externally, the architecture is intended to contrast the crater, like a vestige, reminiscing the memory of what once stood there. Inside, the materials are carefully chosen to frame the landscape for visitors, with the low windows and opaque banding emphasizing the dramatic contrast between the interior space and the Horssborg Crater.
Program
The Horsemen Retreat Centre features two distinct entry points, each located at opposite ends of the building. The north entrance serves visitors attending public programs and accessing accommodations, while the south entrance is dedicated to the horse stables. Upon arrival, visitors enter the upper level, which houses the more social and public areas, including the horse stables, reception, shop food court, communal spaces, and a children’s room, along with some accommodations. The lower level, in contrast, provides a quieter atmosphere, offering a reading area, lounge, additional accommodations, and more stables on the north side.