There are few things more beautiful than the views of a natural landscape, mountains, rivers or cliffs where the sea attacks with force. Seeing these landscapes with our own eyes is not always easy, many times we have to hike for hours to the top of a mountain and cross intricate routes with stones and unevenness.
The architecture studio Esja Architecture and Arkibygg Arkitektar has designed a ring-shaped viewing platform, which will be built 650 meters high on the steep Bjólfur mountain, from where you can enjoy the view of the fjord. It is strategically designed and situated to offer views of all the sights surrounding the town of Seydisfjordur.
"The viewing platform is there to frame the views, but also as a destination in itself," explains Audur Hreidarsdottir, founder of Esja Architecture. "The most obvious view that visitors want to see is the fjord and the ocean."
The mountain owes its name to the Viking Bjólfur who first settled in Seydisfjordu. The Vikings were buried with their most valuable belongings such as jewelry and weapons. It is believed that this Viking was buried at the top of the mountain. The structure is circular, in the shape of a ring, which symbolizes the silver jewel that belonged to the Viking. The viewpoint is circular in shape to allow visitors to contemplate the surroundings in 360 degrees. It is 32 meters in diameter and has a walkway that allows you to hang in the air at the edge of the mountain.
"The round platform guides visitors through a 360-degree experience, traveling slowly in a circle, taking in different views along the way," he continued.
"The most impressive view is on the part of the ring that sticks out from the edge, which adds a bit of theatricality," he adds. "The best thing is that you can't see the full view until you're on the edge of the mountain, so it's quite a reward after making the journey to the top.
The ring will have a built-in bench that will extend throughout the interior of the 100-meter circle. The ring is made of concrete, the railings will be made from local larch and large stainless steel posts. The three silver gray materials require minimal maintenance due to the harsh, extreme weather conditions. "The continuous bench spans the entire inner circle and invites travelers to sit wherever it inspires them, as if stopping at a museum bench to contemplate a particular work of art."
The structure is expected to be built during 2024 and completed in 2025. The road to the mountain is only accessible during the summer, and even then, snowfall, heavy rain, and gusty winds are possible. The challenge is that the construction will have to be done in a short period of time in which the temperature allows work. "It can be incredibly liberating to be on top of a mountain and see the world from a different perspective," says Hreidarsdottir.
"The view is stunning in all directions: towards the surrounding steep mountains, the narrow valley, the endless waterfalls and the beautiful city," explains Hreidarsdottir. The project is carried out in an interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, landscapers and structural engineers, from conception to construction.
The Bjólfur ring was the winning entry in a competition held by the municipality of Seydisfjordur in 2021. A city known for its food culture and its annual arts and music festival.
