Lavaforming radically envisions Iceland in the year 2150, when humans have harnessed Earth’s volcanic activity to create entire cities from flowing lava. A century ago, the revolutionary idea to power and heat a country almost entirely from geothermal energy first came about. Thirty years later, the geothermal heating system of Reykjavik became a reality and now, today, it’s impossible to imagine our cities without it. But in order for us to get here, it first had to be imagined.

We imagine that by the end of the century, we have succeeded in harnessing glowing lava to create a new architecture in tune with the country’s ecology. The exhibition’s focus is on describing how this technology developed and how architecture could be a catalyst in reshaping a new future based on communal ownership and a politics of abundance.

The story encompasses multiple perspectives of future Icelanders, from gardeners to volcanologists, to break down the sociological and technological implications of this concept. From its aesthetic phases to the evolution of the technological, the story of Lavaforming sheds light on how a localized threat was transformed into a vital resource that addresses global challenges.