Snæfellsjökull National Park Visitor Center in Hellissandur, Iceland, is a relatively new attraction for international visitors on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west of Iceland. Hellisandur is a small historic fishing village at the northwest tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, at the foot of Snæfellsjökull Volcano National Park. The beautifully designed national park visitor center was completed in 2023 to accommodate an increase in the number of international visitors who have been visiting the distant Snæfellsnes Peninsula and village of Hellisandur, located less than a three-hour drive from Reykjavik (in good weather).

© Karl Vilhjálmsson

The visitor center is more than just a building; it is also a walking path, a viewing platform and a vibrant center of culture and nature. Designed by Iceland-based ARKIS arkitektar, the building’s form, shape and use are inspired by the surrounding fauna, culture and landscape, and is intended to reinforce the visitors’ experiences of their stay in Iceland. The building was fully designed and constructed according to the international BREEAM certification standard, emphasizing using environmentally friendly materials and minimizing waste.

One of the attractions in this part of Iceland are Glacial Cape tours. The Glacial Cape, close to the visitor center, does not dominate its surroundings, but rather merges into them. Its presence is easily visible from the main road, but, from there, no one fully perceives it. Immediately upon arrival the tone is set for different nuances the building creates in interaction with nature. The trail, from the parking lot to the building, splits a sea of lava around the Cape so the line of sight is limited at first. As one gets closer, the Cape gradually reveals itself and its immediate surroundings. There, a melting pot for cultural, educational and recreational activities becomes revealed. Out of the lava sea, the route continues up the Cape, where unobstructed views extend to the glacier, land and sea.

© Karl Vilhjálmsson

One of the main goals in designing the national park visitor center was to construct it with as little disturbance around it as possible, so it would feel as though it had just landed there fully formed, without any disruption. To achieve this, the design included a part of the building that hovers over the edge of the lava field. This required a new approach to building design in an earthquake-prone area.

The design concept is inspired by the surrounding nature and divided into two distinct sections called Glacier Cape and Fishbone. One section is a work facility for the national park staff, the other containing an exhibition space, café and lecture facilities.

© Karl Vilhjálmsson

A pathway runs through the building’s center, allowing visitors to walk directly through the building from one side to the other. Stairs on both sides of the building lead up to the rooftop observation deck, which offers panoramic views of Snæfellsjökull glacier and the village of Hellissandur.