“In totality, this formation conveys the sense that the Retreat is embracing the Blue Lagoon. There is a lagoon layer, a lava layer, and a moss layer,” explain the architects.
The building itself is made of
Indoors, warm woods contrast with various concrete, rock, and lava surfaces to create an inviting atmosphere whilst maintaining a simple, linear style.
The colour selection reflects the surrounding environment. Furniture is finished with natural materials in shades of green, blue, grey and red to echo the moss, the water, and the oxidized features of lava.
The Suites are surrounded by water in the same way that a moat surrounds a castle. They are built both within the lava and above the lava, straddling the divide between water, earth, moss, and sky.
The architects have attempted to achieve the perception that the building is floating. The suites, ranging in size from 40 to 200 sqm, are essentially one-sided.
“The setup is very simple,” explains Thorsteinsson, one of the architects on the team. “We wanted to emphasize the lagoon, the outside. So one-third of each room is a living area by the window, one-third is for the bed, and one-third is the bathing area.”
The spa at the Retreat, a subterranean realm that enables a journey into and through the volcanic earth, connects the Retreat and the Blue Lagoon whilst focusing on their take on Scandinavian luxury, continuing the long tradition of
Overall, the team of Icelandic and Italian architects have created a project infused with craftsmanship and attention to detail, focusing on an experience that is heightened by the connection to the senses via the extreme and powerful forces created by nature.
[Images courtesy of
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