Stöng in Þjórsárdal Receives International Recognition

The project Stöng (Re)interpretation by SP(R)INT STUDIO, led by Sahar Ghaderi, Associate Professor and Programme Director at the Iceland University of the Arts, and Karl Kvaran, part-time lecturer at the school, has attracted significant attention in the field of contemporary architecture, both in Iceland and internationally. The project is grounded in a delicate interweaving of landscape, archaeological heritage site and contemporary design, with a strong emphasis on visitor experience, sustainability and respect for the historical context of the place.

The work comprises the design and protective structure built over the excavation of settlement-era archaeological remains at Stöng in Þjórsárdal. The project is a collaboration between the architecture studio SP(R)INT STUDIO and the Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland.

Stöng has received highly positive coverage and has been shortlisted for the Icelandic Design Awards 2025, the Dezeen Awards, the Archello Awards, and the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award for outstanding contemporary architecture in Europe. The project also received the Green Shovel 2025, awarded by Grænni byggð (“Greener Built Environment”) for the best reconstruction of the year.

These nominations and accolades highlight the significance of the project in an international context and stand as a clear recognition of the ambitious and high-quality work taking place at the Iceland University of the Arts.