Architizer friend and A+ juror Olafur Eliasson has won the 2013 Mies Van Der Rohe Award for his design of the Harpa – Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavik, Iceland, and we are thrilled! Eliasson, who helped conceive the building’s radiant façade, shares the prestigious prize with the Studio Olafur Eliasson team, Henning Larsen Architects, and Baterii∂ Architects, who all collaborated on the project.

Known for some of the most memorable contemporary art projects in the 21th century thus far, such as the Weather Project at Tate Modern and the Waterfalls in New York City’s East River, Eliasson’s works are often inspired by his obsession with atmosphere and light. Accordingly, the variegated glass façade of Eliasson’s concert hall was inspired by Iceland’s famed Northern Lights and dramatic scenery, and helped the artist and architect grab the award. Read more!

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Imagine your favorite buildings in the world. Now imagine these buildings in total darkness. Not as exciting, right? Architecture without light is like your tastiest breakfast cereal without milk: it just doesn’t work. Light has the unique ability to bring buildings to life. Cold raw concrete becomes warm and lustrous during a summer sunset, while artificial light preserves the monumentality of the world’s tallest buildings when the sun goes down.

The five finalists for the Architizer A+ “Light” award treat light as a physical and integral component of the design. Click through to see them all!

And remember to vote for your favorite project!

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By Jessica Fanning

Today is the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. And what better way to celebrate than by looking at some of our favorite real-life fairytale buildings? We’ve picked seven (you know, in honor of the seven dwarves, the seven ravens, etc.) fantastical structures from around the world, including a Japanese teahouse that sits atop stilts and a castle straight out of “Sleeping Beauty”!  Click through to see them all, and make sure to share your favorites in the comments section below.

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It’s winter in our corner of the world, and while the weather outside may feel frightful, the view can be oh so delightful. What’s better than sitting by the fire, drinking hot cocoa, and watching the snow cover the outdoors in a big white blanket? Well, we can think of one thing: doing all that inside one of these cozy snow huts. So, put on your hat and gloves and click through to see our 10 favorite (indoor) winter wonderlands. And be sure to share your favorites in the comments section below!

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Eldhús intro from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

If you follow Iceland on Facebook or Tumblr, you’re familiar with the country’s endless stream of sweet neologisms and first-person chatter (“A very nice human from the NASA has put a photo of my northern lights on his inter-nets. It is in very much reso-lution. Bless Bless.”). The country has a prolific social media team working to popularize Icelandic happenings online.

A post this morning invites followers to RSVP to an fairly unusual restaurant: Eldhús, a diminutive red gabled home on wheels that only has room for four diners at a time.

The size of Eldhús’ dining room ensures two things: first, each meal will be a rare collective experience shared between chef and diner. Second, putting the whole operation on wheels empowers chefs to explore the diverse bounties of Iceland’s varied terrain. According to Eldhús, chefs will range from celebrities to farmers. Heimir, the Eldhús “butler,” drives the van and coordinates stops along the way. The project runs for a brief twelve days, ending on the 18th of March.

And yes, of course, you can RSVP through Facebook.

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Photo ©Vigfus Birgisson, courtesy of ARKÍS.

The hometown heroes at ARKÍS in Reykjavik, Iceland, just completed The Icelandic Institute of Natural History, a 38,000-square-foot institution built of concrete encased in fritted glass. The effect is glacial, and befitting of a cutting-edge nation located next to the Artic Circle. Click through for brand-new images, courtesy of the architects.

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Last week we showed you the best designs for keeping cozy, but there is no denying the allure of winter’s frosty chill. Thermometer dips are harbingers of this season’s stoic beauty and the arrival of a challenging and ephemeral building material– ice.

Ice captivates because of its contradictions: its crystalline appearance exudes strength, but its structure is fragile, it is cold to the touch, but an excellent insulator, and though towering frozen blocks can look imposing they are impermanent.

Goethe likened architecture to “frozen music,” and frozen architecture similarly halts a force in motion, allowing us to notice their arresting beauty. From frozen follies to palaces of ice, these buildings deter any complaining about the winter cold.

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