Perched just a few meters above sea level, this visitor center overlooks the port town of Hafnarfjörður and its harbor at East Borgafjord. Resembling a massive, pristine boulder, the building appears to guard the harbor and its surrounding environment. This monumental stone faces various regional activities and landscapes, including the sky, deep blue fjords, distinctive mountains, and the local biosphere, creating a harmonious blend of spatial, indoor, and outdoor experiences.
Iceland is a remote island situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the country’s 360,000 residents live in the southwest corner, while East Borgafjord, the northernmost fjord in eastern Iceland, remains geographically isolated. Despite its vast area and occasional challenges in accessibility, East Borgafjord continues to attract more than two million visitors annually without losing momentum.
▲ World Map
The visitor center is located on the outskirts of the small village of Bakkagerði, home to just 130 residents. While navigation and agriculture remain the main local industries, tourism is rapidly becoming a significant contributor to the economy.
In 2015, the autonomous region hosted an architectural competition to design a seaside building that would serve as a tourist hub while meeting the functional needs of fishermen and port authorities. The area is home to a large population of birds, including migratory species such as ducks and parrots that gather here in summer. With approximately 40,000 tourists visiting annually, the new building needed to ensure minimal disruption to both harbor operations and sightseeing activities.
Because the building will be shared by locals and tourists, its functions are designed to adapt throughout the year. In summer, it caters to visitors admiring the sea parrots on the small peninsula nearby. In winter, the space transforms into a venue for local cultural and social events. The ground floor houses the Port Authority and fishermen, providing a small port office, multiple restrooms, and a garage. A café occupies the second floor, while the third floor features an exhibition space dedicated to the surrounding natural environment, including the ocean, seals, mountains, and birds.
▲ Plan view
▲ Axonometric diagram
The building resembles a large cubic stone, with alternating sections removed to create outdoor spaces surrounding the structure. The staircase, positioned diagonally, connects the three floors and further separates indoor and outdoor areas, allowing the cube to blend naturally with the surrounding landscape.
Covering a total area of 345 square meters, the building offers access from both the top and bottom floors. Its rugged character is designed to accommodate a range of users and allow for partial periods of minimal management throughout the year. The architectural texture highlights simplicity and a subtle presence amidst the spectacular surroundings. Locally cast concrete is mixed with colorful regional stones, creating a rough and varied surface that changes with the light and seasons. Construction is straightforward, featuring polished concrete floors and black steel for railings, door frames, and window frames.
Interior Space
Project Drawings
▲ General layout plan
▲ Elevation view
▲ Sectional view
Project Information
Project Type: Visitor Center
Location: Borgarfjörður Eystri, Iceland
Architectural Design: Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects
Area: 345.0 m²
Completion Year: 2019
Photographer: Christopher Lund
Manufacturers: Schuco, Vitral, Ceramica Vogue, Hormann
Lead Architects: Thorhallur Sigurdsson, Ene Cordt Andersen
Design Team: Thorhallur Sigurdsson, Ene Cordt Andersen, Kim Bendsen, Laura Ioana Voinescu, Antoine Piquemal
Client: The Municipality of Borgarfjörður Eystri
Engineer: Efla
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