In July 2023, JimGarand presented a version of his Grauland Homestead region re-titled as Grauvik, a distinctly Scandinavian setting representing a fictional island off the coast of Iceland (see: A touch of Iceland in Second Life).
For early 2025, he now presents a further take on Grauvik in the form of Grauvik 2. It’s a design which retains the rocky, somewhat volcanic look and feel of 2023’s edition, suggesting it still be fictionally located close to Iceland, but which has touches suggestive that it could just as easily be off somewhere like the Norwegian coast. I’ll also note here that Jim has utilised PBR materials in the design and no BP fallbacks, so you’ll need a PBR-capable viewer to appreciate it.
This iteration brings an entirely new design to the island, with the 3D art pieces seen in 2023’s Grauvik entirely absent – which is not to say a 3D artistic presence is entire absent the island, a point I’ll come back to. Instead the island now carrying with it the suggestion of a private retreat; one served by a small dockside area to the north-east. It forms the setting’s Landing Point, and is capable of servicing floatplanes as well as small boats – a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver of the Grauland Flying Service sits above the slipway.
These docks have been built into the one natural cove on the island, the rocks and slopes around and behind it suggestive that it might sit sheltered from the worst of any bad weather that might sweep over the island. Which is not to say it is the only low-laying point on the island; while the core of the setting sits upon rugged plateau of what might be granite or basaltic rock, there are flatlands around the coast – particularly to the north-west – and cinder beaches suggestive of volcanic sand cling to the coastline sufficiently well enough to allow visitors to completely circumnavigate the island on foot, almost never leaving the sands.
Beside the docks with their large hanger for maintaining visiting aircraft (and perhaps small boats hauled up the slipway on trailers), the island s home to three other significant structures, all designed by Jim.
The first and largest of these is the New Pramma House, and it literally dominates Gruavik 2, sitting as it does on the highest point of the island’s spine capable of comfortably supporting a building. As one might expect from such a position, it presents commanding views to the east and west, and is most easily reached by walking up the volcanic sands of the slope at the southern end of the boat moorings.
This route actually passes below a trail cut along the spine of the island to connect the New Pramma House with the remnant of an old lookout building on a shoulder of rock looking to the east, the black coastal sands below it speared by plugs of rock which have stood firm against the passage of time and tide as sea has clearly conquered the softer rock and earth around them so only they remain.
As well as connecting the main house to the out look-out building, the rough path also branches to provide access to the second largest house on the island as it sits to the south. Crouching on a sturdy foundation of cut and mortared stones, this rectangular cottage is hunched behind a rocky wall cut through be steps running down from the trail, and firmly states that the flat headland on which it sits is its own to command, a large deck extending out from it to the edge of the rock.
Those walking around the coat of the island will actually pass under this cottage by means of a tunnel cutting through the rock below it, passing by way of one of several places to sit scattered across the island. The tunnel will bring explorers to a further stretch of dark beach down to which the path from the top of the island descends by way of wooden board walks hugging the rock, platformed stairs and broad wooden decks. One of these decks extends out over the sea, in part sheltered by more fingers of rock which rise from the waves and perhaps help break the worse of the sea’s ebb and flow to leave the waters here calm enough for safe bathing and swimming.
It is to the north of these boardwalks and reached via a path of loosely laid planks on the sand, that the third of the houses can be found. Like the others, it is of an ultra-modern, clean look, and it sits within it own gravel surround to offer split-level accommodation as it looks westward. However, it is on the rock-straddled beach extending to the front of this house – and home to numerous seagulls resting their wings – that a curiosity lies.
Ranged over the sand is a scattering of Czech hedgehogs. Are they a remnant of the war time era, originally placed there to prevent tanks and other vehicles from crawling up the beach between the rocks at low tide, or ready to lurk under the waves at high tide awaiting the opportunity to rip out the hulls of unwary landing craft? Perhaps they have been gathered by a dedicated artist and painted against the harm of rust before being deliberately set out in a modern artistic statement? Either option pokes at the imagination.
From here, circling the island on foot is completed around the base of the northern cliffs along a gravel path as it returns visitor to the Landing Point. Or, if you prefer, the path can serve as the start of your explorations! 😀 .
I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated Jim’s builds, but have to confess there is something about Grauvik 2 that really appealed to me; I’m not sure if (again) this is due to the hint of the rugged beauty of Iceland within it (Iceland being one of the two major island countries in the world I absolutely adore visiting), or simply an admiration for the design as a whole (I admit to being particularly drawn to the New Pramma House!).
Not one to miss – the PBR caveat notwithstanding.
SLurl Details
- Grauvik 2 (Liberia Isle, rated Adult)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 