Winner: Residential rebirth project of the year 2022. Studio Bua has designed the Hlöduberg Artist Studio in Heinberg, Iceland.

This project is an artist studio at Hlöðuberg and is situated on a former farm overlooking Breiðafjörður in western Iceland.

Studio Bua transformed a derelict concrete barn in rural Iceland into a home and artist's studio. The rural site is surrounded by mountains, meadows, a fjord and the sea beyond, making it subject to extreme weather and temperatures.

The brief was to conceive a design that would house an artist studio as well as a home for the owners. "We kept what was possible of the relatively stable concrete structure of the barn." said architects Studio Bua. "The part of the barn where we placed the new volume has a thick concrete wall but the walls where we made an enclosed garden are fragile and without foundations."

Finding the right balance between workspace and family home was key. The space needed to be neutral enough to exhibit artwork but also a welcoming family home and a place to entertain guests. Today, the renovation has been conceived and built as a piece of art.

Judges comments: "We were very impressed by the smart engineering required to build this home within a crumbling structure in the Icelandic landscape. The engineering feat to enable this project is quite remarkable, but the finished building is subtle and appropriate for its context."

Designer: Studio Bua

Project: Hlöduberg Artist Studio