Glacier-Inspired Vatnajökull Visitor Center for Europe’s Largest National Park

Located in Iceland's <a href="http://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/" target="_blank">Vatnajokull National Park</a> is the <a href="http://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/english/operations/visitor-centre/snaefellsstofa/" target="_blank">Snæfellsstofa Visitor Center</a> - Iceland's first BREEAM certified building. Inspired by local materials and the glaciers in the surrounding park, the new visitor center is a striking work of architecture situated in a haunting and beautiful natural landscape. Designed by Iceland's own, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/stunning-icelandic-institute-is-an-ice-frosted-eco-citadel/" target="_blank">ARKÍS Architects</a>, the center is built on a sloping hillside to take advantage of views and natural wind protection, and it features a concrete and wood construction topped with a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/green-roof">green roof</a>.

Founded in 2008, Vatnajökull National Park is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatnaj%C3%B6kull_National_Park" target="_blank">Europe's largest national park</a> and is famous for the Vatnajökull glacier.

<a href="http://www.ark.is/">ARKÍS</a> won a competition to design one of the park's <a href="../new-leed-gold-old-faithful-education-center-in-yellowstone/" target="_blank">visitor centers</a>, which they completed construction on last year.

The 765 sq meter visitor center houses a cafe, exhibition areas, offices, a shop, a library, and meeting areas.

The form of the building was inspired by the process that forms <a href="../peruvian-team-paints-mountain-white-to-rehab-a-melted-glacier/" target="_blank">glaciers</a>, wherein a large mass of compressed snow is squeezed through a tight space.

Visitors approach the center from below almost as if they were a climber ascending the glacier, and parking and service areas are kept hidden by landscaping to keep the view pure.

The X-shaped visitor center features two different program elements that cross in the middle where the information path is located.

t program elements that cross in the middle where the information path is located. One axis is built from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/fantastical-new-salvador-dali-museum-in-florida-is-also-hurricaine-resistant/" target="_blank">cast-in-place concrete</a> intertwined with locally-sourced larch wood panels.

The other axis is clad in locked dark-brown copper and features a wood interior.

The building takes advantage of ample daylighting, and each room was designed according to its function and lighting needs.

Energy-efficient lighting and natural daylighting minimizes energy use, while the turf roof provides more insulation for one of the axes.

One of the hallways is constructed out of concrete formed by wood panels, which left behind their texture.

Locally-sourced larch wood is used to build many of the interior furnishings.

The visitor center is the first <a href="http://inhabitat.com/stunning-icelandic-institute-is-an-ice-frosted-eco-citadel/" target="_blank">BREEAM</a> certified building in Iceland, and it is sure to help visitors engage with the park while educating them about sustainable design.