BEYOND THE WALL The project concept is to create a destination that infuses curiosity for users to experience. It connects two tectonic plates and explores the magnificent Grjótagjá caves in northern Iceland. In addition to that, the blend of the proposed design in the natural surrounding was considered, in order to have a minimal impact on the natural habitat. User experience was the center pivot for developing the architectural elements. The three main elements are the visitor center, the viewing tower, and the bridge between continents; they were connected to provide a seamless transition for the user to explore, and set to the side of the cave entrance to enhance the visual connection between the buildings and the main attraction (the caves). Upon entering the building the visitor’s visual attraction is guided smoothly through the folded concrete ceiling that transforms into the rear end information wall, where important information is projected and easily changed. To the right, their curiosity will be enhanced by the wooden-like perforated stair leading to the observation tower and the bridge between continents. When moving further inside the waiting area the café downstairs can be clearly noticed. The simplicity and clarity of the elements inside the building give the first-time visitor the familiarity sense and enhances their experience.

1. BEYOND THE WALL
Landeigendur Voga ehf l Ahmed Mahgoub Abubaker
01 of 04
BEYOND THE WALL
The project concept is to create a destination that infuses curiosity for users to experience. It connects two tectonic plates and explores the magnif-
icent Grjótagjá caves in northern Iceland. In addition to that the blend of the proposed design in the natural surrounding was considered, in order to
have a minimal impact on the natural habitat.
User experience was the center pivot for developing the architectural elements. The three main elements are the visitor center, the viewing tower and
the bridge between continents; they were connected to provide a seamless transition for the user to explore, and set to the side of the cave entrance
to enhance the visual connection between the buildings and the main attraction (the caves).
Upon entering the building the visitor’s visual attraction is guided smoothly through the folded concrete ceiling that transforms into the rear end infor-
mation wall, where important information is projected and easily changed. To the right their curiosity will be enhanced by the wooden like perforated
stair leading to the observation tower and the bridge between continents .When moving further inside the waiting area the café downstairs can be
clearly noticed.
The simplicity and clarity of the elements inside the building gives the first time visitor the familiarity sense and enhances their experiencece.
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CONCEPT DIAGRAMS
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2. BEYOND THE WALL
Landeigendur Voga ehf l Ahmed Mahgoub Abubaker
02 of 04
LEGEND:
1. VISITOR CENTER
2. VIEWING TOWER
3. BRIDGE BETWEEN CONTINENTS
4. WELCOME PLATFORM
5. ENTRANCE TO KARLAGJA CAVE
6. ENTRANCE TO KVENNAGJA CAVE
7. DROP-OFF POINT
8. PARKING AREA (PERMEABLE
PAVERS)
9. PRIMARY PATHWAY(PRECAST
STAMPED CONCRETE UNITS)
10. SECONDARY PATHWAY (PRECAST
STAMPED CONCRETE UNITS)
Grjótagjá is a collection of three small caves located
near Lake Mývatn in northern Iceland, and features
one of the country’s most famous and beautiful geo-
thermal hot springs inside. The caves are all in close
proximity, with two of them just 50 meters apart, and
are located on Vogar farmland.
The bridge’s two main structural elements mimic the outline of the welcome wall. To accommodate the
tectonic plate movement, a hinged connection was introduced at the building site for vertical movement,
for the horizontal movement a rollers connection was introduced at the American side.
The bridge floor is a steel grid of beams that is hanged from the main structure elements
To combat the harsh climate of high wind speed and snow, mesh plates are proposed for all floors, that
resulted in transparency and light structure.
NORTH
AMERICAN
PLATE
EURASIAN
PLATE
SITE PLAN
SCALE 1:300
SITE - WAYFINDING
ATTRACTION ENTRY PATHWAY INTERSECTION MAIN ENTRY
TECTONIC PLATE FORMATION
3D VIEW - VIEWING PLATFORM - LEVEL 01 (ACCESSIBLE)
3D VIEW - BRIDGE BETWEEN CONTINENTS (ACCESSIBLE)
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3. BEYOND THE WALL
Landeigendur Voga ehf l Ahmed Mahgoub Abubaker
03 of 04
ELEVATION - 1
SCALE 1:150
FLOOR PLAN - GROUND
SCALE 1:150
FLOOR PLAN - CAFE ROOFTOP
SCALE 1:150
3D VIEW - V1
3D VIEW - V2
ELEVATION - 2
SCALE 1:150
Northern light colors inspired the Cafe lighting solution.
All light fixtures are LED type to minimize power consumption.

4. BEYOND THE WALL
Landeigendur Voga ehf l Ahmed Mahgoub Abubaker
04 of 04
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SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES - ZERO NET ENERGY (ZNE) ENCLOSURE DETAIL
3D VIEW - VIEWING PLATFORM - TOP Level
3D VIEW - CAFE ROOF TERRACE
The structure was designed for remote site construction; the majority of elements are prefabricated off-site and shipped for assembly on site.
Prefabricated steel structure is used for the stairs, viewing platform, and the bridge.
Unitized triple-pane insulated curtain wall units are used for both the visitor center and viewing tower.
Natural poured-in-place concrete for the visitor center walls, floor, roof, the viewing tower walls, the bridge foundation, and the welcome wall.
Four bracing steel structure members were introduced to the viewing tower, to combat high-speed winds snow loads, while minimizing steel structure
sections. They are fixed on top at tower concrete walls and bottom at visitor center concrete roof while bracing back the steel structure.
The purity and simplicity of these materials emphasize the raw beauty of the rough and variable terrain that changes with time. Reflecting the traditional
Icelandic building methods, the turf roof allows the building to blend naturally into the landscape.
The building is designed for zero net energy. Active and passive
strategies are considered, whereby all the energy required is gener-
ated by the wind turbine system at top of the viewing tower, and the
utIlization of geothermal system for the heating.
SECTION A-A
3D SECTION A-A
LEGEND:
1. Elevator Lobby
2. Entrance to Viewing Tower
3. Bridge between Continents
Vestibule
4. Viewing Platform Vestibule
5. Terrace
6. Store
7. Wind Turbine System
8. Electrical & Battery Room
9. Mechanical Room
10. Heat Pump, Water Storage &
treatment
11. Perforated Floor, up to top of
stair
12. Solid Floor, down to Tower
Entrance
13. Perforated screen
14. Bridge main structure
15. Radiant Floor Heating
16. Steep Pitched Green Roof
System, Native Plantings
3D VIEW - V3 - INFORMATION WALL
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* Back-up system for RE
• Fuel cell system
• Energy storage system
* Passive sustainable design
• Building geometry
• Natural lighting
* Renewable Energy (RE)
• Geothermal system
• Wind turbine system
* Energy saving techniques (EST)
• Building envelope design
• Heat storage system
• Lighting design
OUT-DOOR IN-DOOR