Basalt Architects has used marine-grade concrete to build Guðlaug Baths, a geothermal pool on Langisandur Beach in Iceland.
The baths consist of a three-tiered structure, with a viewing deck on the top, a warm geothermal pool in the middle, and a cooler pool at the bottom.
Guðlaug Baths consists of two pools and a viewing deck
These three oval-shaped forms are each oriented differently, creating an irregularly shaped volume that nestles in amongst the large boulders of the sea wall. A staircase wraps the exterior, connecting all three levels.
"Choosing to put the pool in the rocks maximises the different experiences of the beach and the ocean," said Basalt Architects partner Hrólfur Karl Cela.
"The structure is literally a stair that creates an inviting connection from the bath to the beach," he told Dezeen. The structure is built from marine-grade concrete
Open and free to the public, the baths are designed as a recreation spot for both locals and tourists. Located in Akranes, a town on Iceland's west coast, Langisandur is one of the country's most popular beaches.
The project draws on Iceland's historic tradition of geothermal bathing, thanks to the natural hot springs that can be found all over the country.
Water from the geothermal upper pool overflows into the cool lower pool
Untreated geothermal water is channelled into the upper pool from Deildartunguhver, a huge spring located 40 miles to the northeast.
Water overflows from this pool into the...