Life between opposites.

In the middle of Iceland’s largest fjord, an archipelago rises out of the ocean. The largest of these islands is called Flatey, which thrives with tourism during summer but shelters a population of only 5 during winters.

This project began at sea, where the coastlines of the islands blur with the ocean, and I perceived Breiðafjörður sea and fjord as one entity. With this in mind, my thoughts drifted towards opposites: sea and land, culture and nature, leading me to contemplate how modern architecture often separates us from nature.

Flatey's nature and wildlife became the cornerstone of my work, with a focus on its diverse ecosystem. Upon arriving at Flatey, ideas about a building as a shelter and creating a small harbor started to emerge. The purpose was to create a space free from domination and hierarchy, where nature would coexist with culture without one conquering the other. This approach aimed to blur the line between nature and construction, as well as between the sea and the land, allowing them to exist in harmony without outside imposition. All the utilities offered by the island's nature would be equally and sustainably shared by the inhabitants, both humans and fauna.