Iceland’s “Blue Lagoon” unveils a cool new resort luxury for guests excited about wellness and spa while staying there. For many visitors, a trip to the steaming geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon is a highlight. Now this highlight could get even better. Due to the growing popularity, the new hotel with a thermal bath was opened next to the turquoise-blue, mineral water on a lava field.
Away from civilization in a hotel with a thermal bath
The tourists can therefore enjoy their vacationsomething extraordinaryexpand by convincing yourself of the healing effects of lake water. The hotel with thermal bath also has 62 rooms and opened its doors in autumn 2017. Above all, the unique wellness area offers hotel guests exclusive access to the attraction's invigorating facilities. The expansion of the resort also includes a new dining room and the Moss Restaurant and Spa. The latter is still known as Lava Cove.
Architecture firm Basalt Architects completed the venue in Iceland to set the boundary between nature, wellness, hospitality and prosperity. Thanks to the unique properties of the geothermal lake water, the beauty of the volcanic surroundings and first-class service, the hotel impresses with its thermal bath and many extras. The project is particularly impressive with the natural area that uses medicinal water from a geothermal power plant.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors make the trip to the Blue Lagoon every year to wallow in the gentle lakes. These were created in an 800-year-old lava field, and the attraction's location in Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula is close to the country's international airport. Even self-travellers stopping over for a few hours can treat themselves to a spa treatment there.
In 2016, the destination completed the first phase of its expansion, increasing the size of the lagoon by half. The opening of Lava Cove and Moss in autumn 2017 has therefore turned into an important milestone for tourism in Iceland.
Unique spa experience
As a guest of the spa town, visitors can admire the view of the deep blue waters of the famous lagoon from the hotel suites. This is embedded in the countless lava formations through natural processes and is located in the UNESCO Global Geopark. The entire resort includes a series of pools of geothermal lake water rich in minerals such as silica and sulfur. These minerals are best known for treating skin diseases and can have a noticeable effect during your stay.
The original natural area for the resort, the subsequent Silica Hotel and other extensions to the facilities were designed by Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir, co-founder of the architectural firm. Sigurður Þorsteinsson and Design Group Italia collaborated with Basalt Architects on the hotel with thermal baths in Blue Lagoon. In the following years the complex was expanded considerably.
Minimalist shapes in the middle of nature
The new hotel with thermal baths is the culmination of the founder's vision as an epicenter for health and well-being. The design of the refuge aims to take advantage of the lagoon's natural beauty and minimize the building's impact on the surrounding area. A thorough analysis of the cracks and furrows that form this volcanic landscape shaped the layout of the project plan.
A degree of flexibility was also incorporated into the planning to adapt the design in response to unexpected discoveries during excavation. As a result, the hotel with thermal baths fits seamlessly into the surrounding area and integrates some of the natural features. The architects intended to present the lava, the moss and the water as omnipresent.
So this landscaping along with the design has resulted in an architecture that bulges with the surrounding elements. The bare lava forms the walls inside and out and covers the roofs. The lagoon's waters surround, cascade and flow through the resort, and the lush moss stretches to the horizon, hidden in a cloud of geothermal vapor.
Remarkable construction made of natural stone and building materials
The designers chose the materials the team used throughout the project to complement the tones and textures of the landscape. Raw concrete, wood and lava rock from the site harmonize with the hotel and the surrounding area.
The predominantly concrete structure is built with elements that were either prefabricated or cast in place. The exposed concrete is also treated to create walls with different textures and tones. These are also reminiscent of white silica or gray lava. Furthermore, the tailor-made facades in the hotel with thermal bath are characterized by a dark gray color and a perforated pattern. This is reminiscent of the ventilated surface of the solidified igneous rock.
Stylish indoor ambience
Extraordinary wellness and design hotel directly on Lake Plön
A refuge full of light, space and clarity - that is the Wellness Hotel Whitman, which opened in 2018 directly on the shore of the large Plön Lake. It was designed by the renowned designer Werner Aisslinger. The naturalness of the surroundings is reflected in the suites. A pool, several saunas, VItal bar and more
The 62 suites have a minimalist design and are equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows and designer furniture. The perspective from the hotel rooms also draws attention to the lagoon or the moss-covered rocks.
The lava rock appears in various forms throughout the interior to form surfaces and objects that root the building in its context. These include service desks in the reception area and a chef's table in the restaurant, also made from lava mined on site.
Walls made of visible rock also surround the wine cellar that belongs to the restaurant. Subtle lighting completes the whole thing, with additional pendant lights contributing to the subdued ambience.
