Guests at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland can look out onto the turquoise water of the famous lagoon from hotel suites nestled into the lava formations.
The Blue Lagoon is situated within the UNESCO Global Geopark and comprises a series of pools containing geothermal seawater rich in minerals like silica and sulphur that are reputed to be good for treating skin conditions.

The original Blue Lagoon spa and hotel opened in 1999, with spaces designed by Sigurdur Thorsteinsson of Design Group Italia and Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir ? a founding partner of Basalt Architects.
Over subsequent years the complex was expanded to incorporate a restaurant, and in 2014 construction began on The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland.

The new hotel represents the culmination of founder Grímur Sæmundsen's vision for the Blue Lagoon as an epicentre for health and wellbeing. The design of the retreat aims to take advantage of the lagoon's natural beauty and minimise the building's impact on its surroundings. A thorough analysis of the cracks and fissures that form this volcanic landscape informed the layout of the plan.

A degree of flexibility was also incorporated into the design to enable the plan to adapt in response to unexpected discoveries during the excavation process. As a result, the building merges seamlessly with the environment and incorporates some of the natural features.
"We wanted the lava, the moss, the water to be omnipresent, resulting in architecture that is woven i...