The hotel I designed on Vitastigur, a street set square to the bay of Reykjavik, responds to the major differences between the seasons and holds up to scrutiny the traditional relationship between guest and host. For this I developed a three-dimensional labyrinth, where gently merging spaces are subjected to, at times, unpredictable changes. In the many spatial situations in which guests find themselves, what concerns them is their current position with regard to the whole.

With the summer season, as the number of guests increases, sleeping accommodation compacts. This hotel makes room for each guest. Communal spaces are split up, routes modified and bedrooms subdivided using sliding partitions, rotating panels and movable cupboards. The guest's presence has an effect on how the space is lived. Guests staying for a longer period will discover a second entrance next to an extension to the boiler. The steam makes for a warm welcome. Drops of condensation are caught in gauze screens creating an ice-wall when temperatures drop. As the days get shorter and the number of guests dwindles, the kitchen and dining room relocate from -1 to +1 where the small kitchen diner catches the horizontal winter light. This room is shared by guests and host alike. Cupboards are pushed away to reveal a double-sided fireplace, giving heat and light in the dark winter months.

Place of education: AvB Arnhem
Specialization: architecture
Tutors: Birgit de Bruin, Wim Korvinus & Frans Sturkenboom