The Þjórsárdalur valley in the Southern Highlands of Iceland is the location of the Stöng archaeological site. Around twenty Viking settlements there were buried when Hekla Volcano erupted in 1104. In 1939, a teams of Nordic archaeologists found an exceptionally well preserved longhouse and farm complex under layers of volcanic ash.

The objective of Sp(ri)int Studio’s project was to preserve the remnants. Encompassing a built area of 400 square meters, a new shelter complements and enhances the timber structure built over the dig in 1957. This is done with larchwood, which over time takes on a natural patina. The translucent polycarbonate roof protects the ruins without enclosing them, letting daylight and air in. This approach created a sober, respectful atmosphere that prioritizes the place’s legibility over architectural monumentality.

The project focuses not only on the physical upkeep of the remains, but also on improving the visitor experience and making it inclusive. New walkways and raised platforms, a new parking facility, washrooms, and a footbridge have been incorporated without damaging the archaeological integrity of the site. From an elevated entrance, visitors proceed to a suspended balcony overlooking the excavations.

A keystone of the scheme is the dialogue between past and present: this latest renovation does not erase previous footprints, but sensitively makes them part of it. The new volumes act as neutral spatial framework adapted to the valley orography, emphasizing the continuity between the architecture and the natural topography.