Homeland

Instead of a compact and autonomous volume defining inside and outside, the building is conceived as a continuous inhabited line that emerges from the ground. Its roof becomes an accessible landscape, planted and mineral, offering different modes of use, from contemplation to play, from rest to movement. This elevated garden extends daily life outward while maintaining protection from the strong southeastern and northeastern winds characteristic of the site.

The programme is organised along a central axis that integrates the building into its context, framing views towards the river, maximising daylight, and ensuring efficient internal connections. To reduce footprint and maintain proximity within the plot, the nursing home is structured into five residential units: three on the ground floor and two above. This compact arrangement shortens circulation paths and strengthens relationships between spaces.

At the heart of each unit lies a common living and dining space, conceived as the social core of domestic life. Custom-designed shelving systems define the transition between circulation, private rooms, and collective areas. These elements are spatial devices that create niches for sitting, reading, or informal encounters. They introduce warmth and domestic scale while maintaining flexibility, allowing spaces to adapt over time. Service and staff areas are arranged linearly along the façade facing the hospital, ensuring short travel distances and efficient operational flow. Separate entrances for staff and services maintain a clear functional organisation while preserving the domestic character of the residents’ environment. Existing temporary office containers are integrated into the new building, consolidating functions and improving spatial coherence across the site.

Outdoor areas are paved with hexagonal basalt slabs, recalling the geological origins of the Icelandic landscape. The green roof is planted with resilient grasses, mosses, wildflowers, and edible species adapted to local conditions, extending biodiversity while creating a living surface.

Material choices reinforce the project’s tectonic clarity. The structure is concrete, insulated externally and clad in vertical burnt timber. The charring process enhances durability while producing a dark, textured exterior that contrasts with the lighter timber finishes used within the courtyards. This duality strengthens the relationship between protection and intimacy, between exposure to nature and sheltered interior life.