Architecture office Studio Bua has converted an abandoned farm building in Iceland into an artist's studio and residence, featuring a new gabled volume slotted inside the existing walls.
Studio Bua, which has offices in London and Oslo, was asked to develop a proposal for revitalising a cluster of former farm buildings overlooking the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve in western Iceland.
Studio Bua has converted an abandoned farm building in Iceland
"Our first proposal was to link the existing spaces to create a more cohesive landscape with a 'community' of buildings for the family and their friends to occupy," said Studio Bua. "Together they create the place and make its history evident."
The first phase of the project involved converting the derelict concrete barn into an artist's studio and holiday home for the owners. The house overlooks the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve
The existing barn's robust concrete structure was retained and adapted to accommodate a kitchen and dining area alongside a double-height studio space.
Additional single-storey walls adjoining the main structure had been constructed without foundations and were therefore deemed too fragile to reuse. Instead, they are left as they were found, forming a perimeter around an open courtyard.
A new gabled volume is slotted inside the old farm's walls
The ground floor is designed to provide a sequence of utilitarian spaces with good natural light and views of the surrounding landscape throu...