Lavasphere
Iceland Volcano Look-out I Mjvatn, Iceland
A collaboration with a friend and coursemate Adam Mark Fiegler, as we both try to achieve a sustainable approach for the lookout competition. The spherical spiral performs as a dynamic lookout, that allows visitors to create their views along with its platforms. Each step offers a new degree of panoramic experience. Lavasphere is based on the Design for Disassembly concept, which is part of the Circular Economy Philosophy and helps to guarantee a minimal footprint and zero waste management after its Lifecycle. The structure, with its single anchor foundation, allows for being dismantled and rebuilt at another location without leaving traces in the current environment of the Hverfjall Volcano. All materials are chosen by its Environmental Product Declaration in order to observe their Global Warming Potential. The charred Wood surface and oxidized steel parapet offer a natural and archaic preservative.
A simplified construction technique of a steel pole on a concrete base anchor foundation, the platforms or steps: cross-laminated timber boards charred naturally using the shou sugi ban Japanese technique is inserted on the steel pole, and finally, the handrails fitted which are also of naturally treated corten steel.