paolo gianfrancesco: the barn house vf

the barn house by paolo gianfrancesco image courtesy paolo gianfrancesco

paolo gianfrancesco is a young architect currently based in iceland. he recently designed ‘the barn house VF’, a small unit in the isolated icelandic west fjords. aðalvík beach is extremely north and is one of the most remote places in iceland. the location calls for a choice of light wood frame modules because of the inaccessibility of the beach; the only access is during the summer by sea with small fishing boats.

the aim of the project was to build on the original site of an old barn house. the main wood module is based on a static arch form repeated along the main axis. great parts of the components are based on simple rectangular sections (15/25×150 mm) of hard grey wood. the simple form comes from the analysis of the icelandic barn house heritage that perfectly fits the area.

the idealization was carried out in various simplification phases. the aim was to find an essential form, able to describe the location´s equilibrium and austerity. there are no details distracting the eye from the house´s elementary form. it is a primitive form that belongs to a collective imagery.

the gables present two screens to the landscape. the barn house serves as a place of observation, a silent refuge. it is made to have minimum impact on the landscape so the eye slides past when looked at from far away.

the house will only be used in summer time and therefore is provided with shutters that transform it in a closed volume casting an elegant shadow on the landscape. the corrugated aluminium roof is hidden by the wood shell, which gives rhythm to shadow. the top level is shifted to create a balcony and an entrance leaving a compact wooden mass.

the barn house – back view image courtesy paolo gianfrancesco the barn house – side view image courtesy paolo gianfrancesco