Iceland presents the Lavaforming at its National Pavilion for the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Led by architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, founder of s.ap architects, the pavilion is commissioned by Halla Helgadóttir, Iceland Design and Architecture. Lavaforming envisions a provocative and speculative future in which the elemental force of lava is no longer seen solely as a natural hazard but instead embraced as a generative, architectural medium. By harnessing and directing controlled lava flows, the project explores the potential of molten rock to shape urban environments, transforming destruction into construction. Through a series of physical experiments and research-driven installations, Lavaforming demonstrates how this often-feared geological phenomenon could become a renewable and expressive material in the creation of future cities.
Lavaforming explores Iceland's unique geological conditions, positioned between tectonic plates that result in frequent volcanic activity and vast lava fields. Instead of viewing this natural force as a destructive event, Lavaforming envisions harnessing it as a renewable resource for the construction industry. The concept imagines a future where lava flows could form the foundational material for buildings, drastically reducing environmental impact by eliminating harmful mining practices and utilizing the power of nature itself.
s.ap architects, comprising Arnar Skarphéðinsson, architect and co-creator of Lavaforming; Björg Skarphéðinsdóttir, designer; and Sukanya Mukherjee, architect, has carried out a series of material experiments to shape lava in a laboratory setting. These tests involve re-melting basalt and casting it into molds, resulting in smooth, glass-like black bricks and columns. The outcome is a set of durable building elements that suggest potential applications for renewable infrastructure in volcanically active regions such as Iceland. In 2024, Pálmadóttir received the Nordic Council Environment Prize for her work in environmentally focused architecture. New experiments, presented in the Pavilion, explore how basalt behaves under controlled cooling. This latest phase investigates basalt's potential as a mono-material, capable of forming entire structures. Early findings suggest a viable path toward melting and solidifying basalt to produce structurally sound, sustainable building materials.
The goal of Lavaforming is to redefine architecture's role in sustainability and innovation, demonstrating that lava can become a versatile and sustainable building material. This is both a practical proposal and a paradigm shift for architecture, pushing us to reconsider materials and methods that have long-lasting impacts. - Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, project's curator and creative director.
Pálmadóttir's work is well-regarded for its interdisciplinary and circular approach to architecture, with a focus on using recyclable and sustainable materials. She leads both s.ap architects in Iceland and the Icelandic branch of Danish architecture firm Lendager, underscoring her dedication to sustainable development across the Nordic region. Her team, along with various collaborators, will bring Lavaforming to life at the Icelandic Pavilion in Venice in May 2025.
In other similar news, the National Pavilion UAE, curated by Emirati architect Azza Aboualam, explores the evolving relationship between architecture and food production in the UAE, proposing innovative solutions for sustainable and self-sufficient food systems, the Spanish Pavilion explore sstrategies for the decarbonization of architecture in Spain, while France constructs a temporary building using reused materials to spark conversations about repurposing existing structures. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition focuses on the intersection of natural and artificial intelligence, exploring how these forms can help address global challenges such as climate change. In fact, Carlo Ratti has been appointed as the curator of the 2025 Venice Biennale, with the theme "Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective."
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on October 28, 2024, and updated on May 29, 2025.
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