Milli Heima / Between Worlds
Short Description
Growing up in Iceland, I was surrounded by stories of the Huldufólk – the hidden people believed to live within rocks and lava fields. Whether taken literally or symbolically, those stories reflect something deeply rooted in Icelandic culture: respect for the land and the belief that humans are not its only inhabitants.
Milli Heima explores what architecture might become if it were designed around that relationship instead of dominating it. Inspired by the fluid spatial language pioneered by Zaha Hadid and reinterpreted through Iceland’s volcanic landscape, the building emerges from the terrain as though it belongs there. It doesn’t compete with nature – it grows from it.
At its entrance stands the Vé, a sculptural threshold formed from volcanic basalt and translucent glass. Rather than serving as decoration, it becomes a point of contact between worlds. Touching the stone is a symbolic gesture of respect, acknowledging the unseen before entering. It is not ownership of the land, but permission to share it.
The project imagines architecture as something capable of connecting people – not only with one another, but with memory, folklore, and the landscapes that shape identity. In this vision, humans and the Huldufólk exist in quiet coexistence, reminding us that protecting nature begins with recognising that we are only one part of it.
Prompt Logic
Enigma Relived, Sólheimasandur Iceland, vast black volcanic sands, ancient lava fields, dramatic Nordic storm clouds. Colossal Zaha Hadid – inspired cultural landmark, overwhelming monumental scale, flowing parametric architecture shaped by volcanic and glacial forces, sweeping white matte surfaces, vast transparent glass facades, completed real-world architecture emerging naturally from the landscape. An ancient Icelandic relic of unknown origin stands on a minimalist white podium, designed in the same Zaha Hadid language. Formed from black volcanic basalt, transparent crystalline glass and white matte metal, fluid sculptural geometry, deep fractures, embedded glass chambers, weathered surfaces, partially geological and partially architectural, mysterious and impossible to identify. A natural Icelandic blonde woman in an authentic lopapeysa wool sweater rests one hand on the relic, subtle connection to Icelandic huldufólk folklore, windblown hair, natural expression, practical outdoor clothing. Fine art environmental portrait photography, low camera position, selective focus on woman and relic, shallow depth of field, cinematic foreground blur, architecture towering behind them. Wet black sand, realistic reflections, soft diffused Icelandic daylight, natural shadows, realistic glass refraction. Hasselblad X2D 100C, XCD 55V f/2.5, Architectural Digest, Dezeen, ultra photorealistic, realistic engineering, natural color grading, no fantasy, no sci-fi, no CGI.
Process
This project evolved through many iterations rather than a single prompt. I explored the concept across several AI platforms, testing different compositions, architectural forms, materials, and ways of expressing Icelandic folklore without relying on literal imagery. The final artwork was developed and refined in Leonardo AI using the Nano Banana Pro model, with the Pro Upscaler used for the final high-resolution output. Throughout the process, I also experimented with Midjourney and other generative models to explore alternative directions before bringing everything together into a final, cohesive design. My goal wasn’t to imitate existing architecture, but to combine contemporary parametric design with Iceland’s volcanic landscape, cultural traditions, and folklore to create something that feels rooted in both the past and a possible future.