House Tour: Inside a Barn Conversion in Iceland

Photography by Marino Thorlacius

The Icelandic artist Guðrún Kristjánsdóttir and her husband, Ævar Kristjánsson, a well-known Icelandic broadcaster, were searching for a new home and studio when their son brought them to a derelict, fragmented farmstead overlooking the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve. The family approached Studio Bua, who have been tasked with transforming the entire site; here's a look at the transformation so far.

A brick lean-to, which was missing its roof and in a complete state of ruin, now forms what Kristjánsdóttir describes as a “cloister garden”.

The functional kitchen uses a combination of bespoke stainless steel and hand-stained plywood.

A concrete and plywood staircase leads from the ground floor dining area to a first-floor living area and bedrooms above.

The architects have created living pictures that frame the expansive landscape beyond the barn walls.

At the top of the stairs is a mezzanine living room with views of the beach and fjord beyond.

The main bedroom has a minimal aesthetic and clutter is kept behind bespoke built-in storage.