The Retreat at Blue Lagoon provides a unique way of experiencing Iceland´s ancient bathing culture. The task was “to push the boundaries between nature, architecture, and experience, to create a place where guests feel a connection to sublime Icelandic nature”.

The Retreat is an extension of the main Blue Lagoon complex. Built directly into a 755-year-old lava flow in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, the Retreat encompasses a subterranean spa, geothermal lagoon, a restaurant, and a 62-suite hotel encircled by the Blue Lagoon’s iconic seawaters.

From the healing water of the lagoons to the electricity that powers the complex, Blue Lagoon draws its power from the earth’s geothermal resources. Wellness at the Retreat is inseparable from the wellspring of renewable energy brought forth at the Svartsengi Resource Park, a global pioneer in sustainable utilization of geothermal resource streams.

The Retreat is predominantly made of concrete, much of it precast to reduce the environmental stress of onsite construction. Throughout the complex, perforated facades and interior screens evoke the natural patterns that emerge when the air pockets locked inside lava rocks are revealed. Dark terrazzo floors were created using local lava sand and stone. The active ingredients of the Blue Lagoon are silica, blue-green algae, and mineral salt.

Photos Courtesy of Ragnar Th Sigurðsson/Arctic Images