Looking out over the Blue Lagoon
Feel like spending a night in a room that opens directly onto a volcanic thermal pool? Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s first five-star hotel, is located in a mossy lava field and has received awards for its outstanding design.
The milky blue water has a perfect bathing temperature – between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius. A white crust has formed where the thermal water laps against the mossy lava rock, as if someone had drawn a precise line between the pool and the surrounding land. Steam rises from the pool, refracts the light with countless suspended water particles, and softens the view of the rugged rocky landscape. The architecture of the Retreat at Blue Lagoon gives guests an exclusive perspective on this geothermal paradise not far from Reykjavik.
A paradise for millions of people
In view of the location of the Blue Lagoon in the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, however, it may not be the ideal location for rest and relaxation. The volcanic thermal spa, which National Geographic lists as one of the 25 wonders of the world, has become a leading attraction on the island. In 2017, 1.3 million visitors bathed in the milky blue water that is rich in minerals, especially silica.
Architectural landmarks in the pristine nature of the High North are very much in vogue these days. On a faraway European coast, at the end of a Norwegian glacial fjord, the architectural firm Snøhetta is currently building a spectacular hotel. And further upcountry, 300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Danish architect Dorte Mandrup and her team have designed The Whale, a new visitor centre and architectural masterpiece that is currently under construction.
The building sits deep in the lava, allowing the natural rock formations to form both the perimeter of the lagoon and the interior walls of the spa.
Basalt Architects
The construction of the Retreat marked the creation of a new and exclusive oasis on the Reykjanes Peninsula for the hotel’s overnight guests and day spa visitors. The architecture of Iceland’s first five-star hotel manages to strike a fine balance between the structure and the surrounding landscape. “The building sits deep in the lava, allowing the natural rock formations to form both the perimeter of the lagoon and the interior walls of the spa,” says Basalt Architects, who are responsible for the overall architectural concept.
An award-winning interior concept
The hotel has 62 rooms and five exclusive suites. Its cleverly designed interior concept earned it the title of “Best Resort 2019” at the AHEAD Europe awards for hospitality, experience and design. Working in close collaboration with Basalt Architects, Design Group Italia was mainly responsible for the interior design. “We basically wanted to have continuity between nature, the interior and the exterior,” Design Group Italia Chief Design Officer Sigurdur Thorsteinsson said in an interview.
The resort’s interior uses colours and materials that evoke the striking lava landscape, the bright green moss and the milky blue water of the immediate surroundings. The tactile surfaces of the interiors are also a nod to the rugged natural formations just outside the hotel. “We are bringing lava blocks into the building, treating them as a building material or as a furniture material,” says Thorsteinsson.
We wanted people to come away with more respect and a better understanding of what nature is.
Sigurdur Thorsteinsson, Design Group Italia
According to Thorsteinsson, the Retreat aims to create a connection between people and nature: “Apart from relaxing, we wanted people to come away with more respect and a better understanding of what nature is and how wonderful it is.”
Sustainability in structure and design
The outstanding lighting design of the complex is conceptually divided into three areas – the hotel, the spa and the lagoon. The diverse characteristics of the individual zones were inspired by a common idea: to preserve the charm of Icelandic daylight, while the artificial light energizes, relaxes and captivates.
Light and the absence of light becomes a revitalizing experience.
Lighting concept of the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland
The lighting concept, known as human centric lighting, is described as follows: “light and the absence of light becomes a revitalizing experience.” The lighting is orchestrated according to the circadian rhythm and, according to the concept, must under no circumstances contribute to the light pollution of the Icelandic night sky. Hence, the designers from Liska and iGuzzini have consistently used lamps with maximum energy efficiency.
The hotel is powered entirely by renewable energy. The Svartsengi Resource Park geothermal power station is conveniently located nearby. It wasn’t until its construction in 1978 that the Blue Lagoon came into existence. However, another 12 years would pass before the locals first dared to bathe in the thermal water.
Text: Gertraud Gerst
Translation: Rosemary Bridger-Lippe
Photos: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon