Alba Solís
Handledare/ Elizabeth Hatz Supervisor
Examinator/ Anders Johansson Examiner
Examensarbete inom arkitektur, avancerad nivå 30 hp Degree Project in Architecture, Second Level 30 credits
02 June 2015
House For Humanists
site plan
House for Humanists
The building stands on an old industrial site but is still in dialog with nature - most notably the slow, but constant, movement of the tide. The building stands on a manmade landfill from just fifty years ago where mountain Esja has a strong presence; a reminder of man’s relationship to nature and how the human being has shaped its environment. The raw concrete and steel is dominant in the area, taking on different colours and textures.
When arriving in the parking lot, guests are led along a wall of one of the older buildings where the two materials interact and show the passage of time, where the steel paints the concrete. This path is the first transitional space leading into the building, followed by an overhang which leads to the forecourt.
The guest enters the middle of the building allowing the eye to wonder into different spaces. From this point all other spaces are accessible and outdoor spaces are visually prominent.
The functional rooms are placed with some distance between them, allowing for emphasis on transitional spaces and social spaces outside of each gathering space. The spaces differ from small, intimate rooms to more open and social spaces.
Four outdoor rooms, each with it’s own character, are cut from the masses forming the building. The forecourt is the portal to the building with rough stone floor, the empty garden attempts to achieve tranquility, the tidal room hopes to evoke contempla- tion and the largest outdoor room encourages social interaction after ceremonies.
entrance forecourt
tidal path at average sea level gathering space infront of large hall
Alba Solís / studio #7
The project is a building for Siðmennt, Center of Humanism and Ethics in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík. They perform humanist wed- dings, naming ceremonies and funerals along with hosting sym- posiums on disputed or fragile matters in the society, promoting informed discussion.
In recent years there has been a rapid shift towards atheism in Iceland.
Nontheless, people seem attached to many ritual life-event cere- monies that are usually associated with religious believe systems.
Weddings, funerals, rite of passage and celebration of new life can be found in any culture and/or religion but the shells built around them take different shapes and forms.
This project has been about finding a framework that corre- sponds to secular humanist values like equality, acceptance of mortality, tolerance and respect for nature while creating spaces that allow both for discussion, celebration and grief.
ground floor plan
2nd floor plan D
D
A
B
C A
B
C
D
D
A
B
C A
B
C
1 2
3
5
4 6 8
9
10 7
12 1. utility
2. wake room / small hall for 50 beings 3. work space
4. intimate meeting room 5. canteen 6. foyer 7. empty courtyard 8. tidal room 9. symposium room 10. large hall for 200 beings 11. forecourt 12. library/reading room
symposium room entrance space to wake room
11
House for Humanists
north elevation
west elevation
south elevation
east elevation
section B-B
section D-D
section A-A
view from upper floor
foyer / view into tidal room
