A geothermal sanctuary shaped by Iceland’s volcanic landscape
Set within the volcanic landscape of Lake Mývatn, Inner Retreat brings together a mountain hub and thermal baths in a place designed for reconnection: with the earth, with ourselves and with one another.
The architecture takes its cues from the forces that have shaped this landscape over millennia. Ice, wind, water and volcanic activity inform a sequence of spaces that move through disconnection, eruption, transformation and renewal. Rather than appearing as a separate object, the building emerges from the folds and boulders of the terrain.
Corten steel and timber structures extend from the rock, their forms responding to the movement of snow, prevailing winds and changing patterns of light. Visitors follow sheltered paths into spaces that feel carved from the land, culminating in geothermal pools offering expansive views across the surrounding landscape.
Geothermal water provides heat for both the baths and the interiors, placing the site’s natural energy at the heart of the environmental strategy. Material choices and landscape interventions are similarly grounded in the character and ecology of Mývatn.
Inner Retreat explores how architecture can support physical and emotional wellbeing through a closer relationship with place. The proposal was a finalist in the Future Project: Leisure category at the World Architecture Festival 2025.