Aska

Aska is the first of a series of cabins designed to populate the natural landscape around Lake Mývatn, in Northern Iceland. The topography of the site is geothermally active and features lava formations, volcanoes and hot springs, in a landscape where you will find warm mud puddles as well as a rich and unique bird life.

The cabin is 21 sqm, furnished with a double bedroom, private bath and an openplan kitchen. The large window in the kitchen area offers direct views to the beautiful surroundings - Lake Mývatn and Hverfjall. From the kitchen there is direct access to a terrace through a large sliding door. The small footprint of the house is balanced with a high ceiling height, so the interior of the cabin feels spacious and comfortable.

With thoughts on the Icelandic volcanoes with ash and lava lying like a blanket in the landscape, the cabin has been named Aska, translated as ash.

The cabin is covered with burned pine wood cladding - according to Shou sugi ban, an ancient Japanese technique - where the materials surface is protected by charring the outer layer of the timber. Using this technique, a sustainable and robust façade with a long life is produced from entirely natural materials.

In contrast to the dark cladding, the inside is entirely covered with light pine-plywood that adds light and warmth to the cabin’s interior. Custom design furniture and bespoke inbuilt solutions provide all the comfort of a home; the cabin is furnished with appliances, closets and a bathroom with a shower.

Say arichitects Gisladottir and Berntsen: “Aska is part of a bigger masterplan - a campsite in the common landscapes of Iceland - that enhances the spirit of the natural settings, while inserting an architectural piece, a place to stay, sleep and enjoy the unique environment.”

As an extrusion of the landscape, the roof is planted with vegetation from the surrounding area, providing insulation, while serving the purpose of integrating the cabin with the Icelandic landscape. The placement of the cabin was carefully chosen according to wind and snowfall in the area; this way the entrance is accessible throughout all seasons and weather conditions, even in heavy snowstorms.

With Aska, we continue to interpret the classic Icelandic turf house which, based on the local building tradition where craftsmenship and nature merge, has created a small unique cabin by Lake Mývatn in northern Iceland.

Studio Heima