About 2,300 years ago, Dimmuborgir - “Dark Castles” - was formed from the massive eruption of the Hverfjall crater. Lava flowed through a 12-kilometer fissure, creating a lake that gradually solidified. It is said that escaping steam cooled the lava, giving rise to these mysterious shapes. Icelandic legends describe the place as home to legendary creatures… or even as the gateway to hell! In 2023, a competition called for replacing the existing visitor center and cafeteria with a new building more respectful of the site. The program includes reorganizing the outdoor parking, creating a building with a restaurant, kitchen, restrooms, and a lounge area providing information about the site’s history. Our approach is to “guide the visitor” from the moment they arrive. A wooden structure conceals parked vehicles to preserve the landscape. A winding path meanders through the topography, leading to the other side, gradually revealing these volcanic sculptures as one descends slowly into the Earth’s depths. Separated simply by a long glass wall, the interior spaces are carved into the rock. A concrete structure stabilizes the whole. Made with aggregates from the site, the concrete takes on a black hue, blending seamlessly with the environment. Only the furniture and flooring stand out in this universe of twisted lava. Silence - the legendary monsters are light sleepers…