Architect | ÖÖD |
Location | Mosfellsbær, Iceland |
Photographs | Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland |
The initial idea was to have the houses built as ÖÖD hotels, which are standard 200 ft2 mirror-glass houses with all necessities for living – a bedroom, small living space, a kitchenette and a bathroom. As the cooperation progressed, the client Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland learned that ÖÖD also makes custom houses and got thrilled about designing a house that would even better fit the Icelandic landscape and foster star-gazing and the amazing spectacle of Northern Lights at a new level – a house of transparent glass and glass roof that would allow for next level star-gazing from the comfort of your home and bed.
When you open the door and step in, the first thing that most people see is the hexagon black tiles, which represent the basalt columns and moodiness of Iceland. The bedroom is set at the front of the cabin, which is entirely encased in glass so that guests can sleep under the stars. A more private living/dining space and kitchenette are located to the rear.
The cabin’s design is inspired by Viking and Nordic deco – from the handcrafted rustic bed, to the symbolic Viking “moon” element on the roof, and the custom cord wire pendant above the table. Nordic runes also adorn the exterior of the home, an “F” symbol which represents the letter F for Freya, and “A” symbol representing Alva which also refers to the two cabin names, Alva and Freya.
The kitchen features dark oak cabinets and black hexagon tiles that climb from the floor to the backsplash. The cabinets have been left open deliberately to create a welcoming atmosphere that feels like a home and less like a storage unit. A door from the kitchen leads to the bathroom, which features copper and stone accents and a wall crafted with geometric 3D tiles.
As the project uses a lot of glass, ÖÖD has incorporated a number of sustainable features, including substantial insulation, triple-glazed windows, thermally modified wood, programmable thermostats and LED lighting.