On a ridge 650 metres above sea level in eastern Iceland, a perfect circle of concrete and steel hangs over the edge of Mount Bjólfur. The Ring of Bjólfur turns this ridge into a bjólfur mountain viewpoint with a 360-degree view of the fjord below, and it does so by standing in for a treasure that has never been found.
The bjólfur mountain viewpoint overlooks Seyðisfjörður, a narrow fjord flanked by steep mountains. The town is known for its art scene, its food culture and an annual art and music festival. It also has the only ferry link between Iceland and mainland Europe. From the ring, visitors can see the town, the valley, the fjord and the Atlantic Ocean beyond it.
The Legend Behind the bjólfur mountain viewpoint
The design is rooted in a local legend. Bjólfur was a Viking settler who first claimed land in Seyðisfjörður, and the mountain took his name. Folklore says he was buried high on the slope, as chieftains often were, with his silver and jewellery.
Jewellery-like forms inspire architects elsewhere too, such as this Hangzhou glass museum drawing on ancient jade artifacts that turns old craft into glass.
Arkibygg Architects explains that the saga record is thin. The medieval Book of Settlements, or Landnámabók, says little about him. Local tales fill the gap. Bjólfur’s grave goods have never been found, so the designers imagined one of them. “We let our imagination run free and left him a great silver ring,” the studio said.
Arkibygg Architects and Esja Architecture won a competition to design the project in 2021. The municipality of Múlaþing was the client. The studios later earned recognition for the work. It was shortlisted in the small projects category of the Dezeen Awards and won the public vote in that category. It also won a jury prize at the 2023 Architizer A+ Awards.
The ring is 32 metres across. Its walkway and bench run around a circumference of about 100 metres. The shape is a deliberate reference to jewellery, but it also serves a practical purpose. Arkibygg Architects says the form was meant to work with views from this mountain viewpoint in every direction.
The structure uses post-tensioned concrete, a method that compresses the concrete with steel tendons to strengthen it. Part of the platform projects beyond the mountain’s edge. The closed circle carries its own load efficiently. Exa Nordic served as structural engineer.
Materials were chosen to survive the site. The ground is windswept, and snow covers parts of the ridge for months each year. The inner railing is made of local larch, which weathers to a silver patina. The outer railing consists of slim stainless-steel posts that catch the light. The exposed concrete also shifts tone as the weather changes. Together, these finishes produce a range of silver-grey shades that stand out against the brown rock.
Mountain sites demand similar care, as this Quebec chalet mirroring Laurentian landscapes in timber shows with its wood and stone.
Visitors experience the bjólfur mountain viewpoint differently depending on where they stand and whether they sit or stand. Arkibygg Architects describes a space that is used in many ways. Residents walk, cycle and even ski up to it, and the designers say it has become part of daily outdoor life in the town.
Access was a central concern. The designers built an accessible parking space beside the ring so wheelchair users can reach the platform directly. General parking sits further downhill, which encourages visitors who can walk to make the climb. The walkway to the bjólfur mountain viewpoint is slightly sloped and designed for wheelchair users.
The site itself required careful handling. Crews kept disruption to the soil and rock as low as possible. Boulders that had to be moved during construction were returned to their original positions once the work finished. Other disturbed areas were replanted with native vegetation. Esja Architecture and the landscape designers Anna Kristín Guðmundsdóttir and Kjartan Mogensen oversaw this approach, and the single destination also keeps people off the fragile ridge.
Construction was carried out by MVA Byggingarverktakar of Egilsstaðir and funded by the Tourist Site Protection Fund.
The bjólfur mountain viewpoint gives Seyðisfjörður a landmark that is both a viewpoint and a memorial to a settler whose grave has never been found. Its silver finish, which the designers chose to suggest a lost ornament, now reads as a fitting sign on a mountain that carries his name.
H/T dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ring of Bjólfur viewpoint in Iceland?
The Ring of Bjólfur is a circular concrete and steel viewpoint on a ridge 650 metres above sea level in eastern Iceland. It offers a 360-degree view of Seyðisfjörður, the fjord below, and the Atlantic Ocean beyond it. The ring is 32 metres across.
Why is the Ring of Bjólfur shaped like a ring?
The design is rooted in a local legend that Viking settler Bjólfur was buried on the slope with his silver and jewellery. Because his grave goods have never been found, the designers imagined he was left a great silver ring. The shape also works with the views from the mountain in every direction.
Who designed and built the Ring of Bjólfur viewpoint?
Arkibygg Architects and Esja Architecture won a competition to design the project in 2021, with the municipality of Múlaþing as the client. Exa Nordic served as structural engineer, and MVA Byggingarverktakar of Egilsstaðir carried out construction. The project was funded by the Tourist Site Protection Fund.
Is the Ring of Bjólfur viewpoint accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, the designers built an accessible parking space beside the ring so wheelchair users can reach the platform directly. The walkway to the viewpoint is slightly sloped and designed for wheelchair users. General parking is further downhill, encouraging visitors who can walk to make the climb.
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