Hovering Trails is a footpath system designed to respond to the increasing demand for low-impact infrastructure in nature reserves. It has now been installed in Hveradalir, a geothermal area in Iceland’s highlands.
Walking path
Geothermal area
Moss / Vegetation
Water
Designed for difficult conditions
The uniqueness of the design of the Hovering Trails system lies in the possibility of installing the trails under challenging conditions, without damaging the ground or disrupting natural water flow. Further, it can be installed with lighting and security handrails according to local risk factors to prevent accidents.
Hovering over the ground
The trails “hover” above the ground and prevent the land from being squashed when facilitating access for travellers. The v-shaped form of the structural parts assures that the soil under the trail has access to light, which maintains the moss and heather. The trails are exciting in places with swamps, hot springs, or lava fields as they float above the ground, compared to traditional paths that could not be constructed in such areas without significant soil disturbance. With the hovering trails, the land can be returned untouched decades later.
Key facts
- Type of project
Contemporary design for the protection of untouched nature
- Project owner
Birgir Þ. Jóhannsson, Architect, and Laurent Ney, Engineer
- Location
Hveradalir
- GPS points
64.02017419445633, -21.397309300578037
- Landscape type
Geothermal site
- Estimated number of visitors high season
An estimated 1,000 visitors per day in summer
- Estimated number of visitors high season
An estimated 100 visitors per day in winter time
- Designers
Birgir Þ. Jóhannsson, Architect, and Laurent Ney, Engineer
- Materials
Aluminium modules with handrails in stainless steel
- Year built
Between 2018 and 2022
- Design / Production / Maintenance cost:
ISK 66.460.000 sponsored by The Icelandic Technology Development Fund / Production cost is ISK 195.000 per m2 / No maintenance is required.
- Prizes/Awards
2nd prize, architectural competition for Kárastaðastígur. 3rd prize, architectural competition for Gullfoss. Received grants from TDF Sproti in 2017 and 2018 and from TDF Vöxtur in 2020 and 2021, as well as a marketing grant from TDF in 2021. Framkvæmdasjóður Ferðamannastaða sponsored the construction of the project in Hveradalir in 2019, 2020 and 2021.