Project Description
The Hverfjall Visitors Center, Information Gallery, and LavaJava Coffee House is a 3D-printed structure designed to welcome visitors to Iceland's Hverfjall volcanic crater. The project is inspired by the morphology of the Hverfjall crater and surrounding Mývatn landscape; the structure is expressed as an undulating volcanic form.

Project Narrative
Hverfjall crater, located to the east of Lake Mývatn, is a popular tourist destination. The crater is 1 km wide and 140 meters deep, with designated hiking trails around the rim.

Working in partnership with the local landowners of Vogar Farmland, and organized by Bee Breeders architectural competitions, submissions were invited for the design of a Visitors Center at the base of the crater. 

Aesthetically, the project's 3D-printed structure was designed to evoke lava striation layers, with specular surfaces reflecting ambient light to integrate the project into the volcanic landscape.

The remoteness of the site and the availability of lava sand as an admixture for carbon-neutral concrete were fundamental to supporting the development of the design concept. On-site printing methods called for progressive layers of concrete mortar to be laid down utilizing the latest developments in 3D equipment and techniques.

The Visitors Center and Information Gallery spaces present the Mývatn regional and Hverfjall crater histories on double-sided displays, allowing for off-hours visibility from the exterior. 

The LavaJava Coffee House features a central espresso and coffee bar and multiple seating options with extensive views of the volcano and surrounding landscape. 

Direct connection from parking and trailheads allows trekkers and visitors convenient access to accessible restrooms and administration offices. The main lobby acts as a central meeting point and bad weather refuge.