FRAMESCAPE
GREENHOUSE RESTAURANT
PROJECT STATUS:
PROPOSAL
LOCATION:
MÝVATN, ICELAND
TYPOLOGY:
COMMERCIAL
YEAR:
2021
Food has been an integral part of our daily life. While the culinary and the dining experience are widely celebrated, they are just part of a bigger process in food production which the rest are often neglected. The Greenhouse Restaurant is set to offer a new experience, bringing together the process of farming, ingredients processing and dining into one place. The amalgamation of a restaurant with greenhouse is an act in celebration of food – especially in places such as Iceland whereby locally grown food is a rarity. It becomes a symbol for appreciation and to raise awareness of our consumption. By integrating the “behind the scene” process of food production as part of the visitor experience as they meander around the farm before reaching their seats, it creates an immersive environment by adding context and background to the meal served onto one’s table.
Putting this against the dynamic landscape of Iceland, designing a Greenhouse Restaurant has to translate the “Farm-to-Table” ideology to its architecture, expanding the very isolated dining experience into a bigger context, in this case, exploration on the relationship between farm and dining versus surrounding and space. How can the restaurant further enhance the experience and deliver a new perspective to the landscape in a similar appreciative way the farm did to the food? What additional qualities can the restaurant provides to its visitor in experiencing Iceland when they can just simply wander around the open landscape?
While one is always surrounded by the richness of the natural landscape elements when in Iceland – the landform, the water, the sky… each is always in the presence of the others, and the experience can sometimes be overwhelming. The Greenhouse Restaurant sees an opportunity to create a distinct experience by separating each of the surrounding elements and framing them individually, allowing each to be taken in completely one at a time without the others shouting for equal attentions. Learning from “Farm-to-Table”, the architecture translates this into the concept of “Back-to-Basic”, reducing external stimulus and distractions to focus on specific attractions found around the site – Hverfjall, Lake Mývatn and the Northern Light. In the same manner of how the addition of farm allows us to better understand the food we eat, contrary, the reduction of our surrounding allows us to better witness the beauty of nature, both in their own ways raising consciousness and gratitude of what we consume.
FARM TO TABLE - The addition of farm offers a better understanding and appreciation of the food we consume.
BACK TO BASIC - The isolation of external stimulus allows a richer experience and appreciation of the surrounding we occupy.
As such, the Greenhouse Restaurant adopted simple yet abstract rectangular form to prevent overpowering the surrounding, with three main activity spaces – Multipurpose Space, Restaurant and Lounge Bar designed to each respond to an element. Instead of replicating the natural environment and trying to compete, architectural forms compliment them by highlighting their characteristics, adopting basic geometries to eliminate unnecessary attentions while acting as a backdrop that frame the views and elevate the immersive ambience: a round aperture frames the shapeless sky; a triangular opening dramatizes of the mountainous landscape and Hverfjall; a rectangular portal captures the panoramic view of shimmering Lake Mývatn and the plain faraway, reflecting it up close.
As the farm gives form to the food, the architecture gives form to the space, and the space gives form to the landscape.
THE CONE
The Cone Multipurpose Space conceals the surrounding landscape away with its continuous curve wall, which slowly opens up towards the top, directing focus upward and bounding the infinite sky with a circular aperture, given it a form. The smooth concrete surface catches light and shadow of passing cloud and changes of weather, and occasionally the Northern Light. The bare wall puts the beauty of the atmosphere into attention by eliminating other distractions.
THE TETRAHEDRON
The Tetrahedron Lounge Bar frames the view of Hverfjall. The triangular opening emphasizes the height and scale of the mountainous landscape towards the South. Cladded in granite, the tactility of the surfaces accentuates the emotion and dramatizes the ambience of being amongst the rough landscape, creating a 3-dimensional surround experience for the patrons.
THE CUBOID
The Cuboid Restaurant frames the far panoramic view of Lake Mývatn and the plain. The horizontal proportion of the space creates an intimate atmosphere that captures the horizon and the vastness of the landscape. The mirror finished ceiling and walls reflects the view, creating more depth and extending the landscape, bringing it closer into the interior space for an immersive dining experience.
