Dwelling in the Landscape: Hrútshellir Cave, Iceland

This artwork is composed of three architectural elements / techniques exhibited in a box shadow frame.

Element Details:

01_Photograph: A dwelling in its landscape. This photograph captures Hrútshellir Cave in Hrútafell, said to be the largest man-made cave in Iceland. This is one of the first signs of Architecture in Iceland. (H)Rutshellir is thought to be the oldest extant man-made residence in South Iceland. This dwelling evidences the architectural wisdom and determination of first settlers to survive in an inhospitable environment. 41 of these Caves have been declared as protected sites, however they are largely unknown. This cave is arched and holds fragments of a Smithy.

02_Contour Site Paper Model: Contours, Volcanos and Icelandic Saga. This layered drawing and paper model captures the site plan and surrounding context of Hrútshellir Cave in Hrútafell. Etched on the ridges and falls of the contours are the stories, dates and facts of the landscape - the ‘sagas’ which historically have travelled across settlements by word of mouth. Carbon paper is used to show the robust, extreme and undulating landscape which is made up of volcanoes, glaciers, land and water.

03_Etching Plate: Internal Perspective of Cave. This Intaglio print captures the internal spatial details of the cave in 2022. This print has been made via the process of etching onto a copper plate.