During the last decade increasing attention has been drawn to Iceland. The rough beauty of this inhospitable place triggers much curiosity and fascination. Its particular geology with around 30 active volcanoes and thousands of the famous geysers also holds substantial energy resources including oil. Consequently Iceland has been increasingly targeted for industrial development. Icelandic Lessons presents the results of the latest research campaign on Iceland by students and faculty of laba, the Basel-based studio affiliated to EPFL's School of Architecture in Lausanne. The campaign's objective was to explore potentials that could emerge from the relationships and areas of conflict between architecture and landscape, urban and rural, culture and nature, artificial and natural, and human and non-human, rather than promoting growth, urbanisation and industrialisation, or upholding concept of Iceland's nature existing as a single autonomous object that should be kept intact.
The new book investigates the spatial and ecological impact of a hypothetical industrialisation of Iceland and questions the relationship between these seemingly opposing categories, and features architectural projects based on the research.