FACTS
Location: Húsavík, Iceland
Year: 2018
Status: Completed
Program: Nature baths and bathing facilities
Client: GeoSea
ABOUT
Geosea Geothermal Sea-water Baths is located in Húsavík, Iceland. The project consists of a 600 m2 bathing facility building and a 500 m2 outdoor bathing area. The 1‐story building draws inspiration from the natural local context, maintaining the tranquillity of the site through modest and respectful architecture.
Adjacent to the existing lighthouse and overlooking a 40‐meter‐high cliff, the new building takes advantage of the stunning views of the fjord and provides a site for contemplating the unique natural features of the site: the ocean, mountains, the magnificent northern lights, drastic weather conditions and a very rich and diverse bird and sea life including Icelandic puffins and whales.
The building is partly submerged into the ground allowing the natural landscape to continue over the roof structure, minimizing its visual impact and maintaining the natural quality of the site. Its richly textured concrete wall surfaces are reminiscent of the rough surfaces of the cliff.
Existing pedestrian pathways are used to integrate the pedestrian flow of the site with the new circulation for visitors. Later stages of the project involve re adapting the use of the lighthouse and making it accessible for visitors and the addition of a viewing sky-walk over the cliff.
Running at a temperature of 38‐40°C (100‐104°F), the geothermal sea water in the nature baths is extracted from the depths of the earth and it is considered to have great health benefits. Rather than adding chlorine to the water, rapid flows of freshly extracted geothermal water in the baths will ensure that the water is always clean. The excess water will flow over its banks into a stream, and run down the cliff and back into the ocean.
CREDITS
Architecture design: Basalt Architects
Interior design: Basalt Architects
Design team: Ari Þorleifsson, Guðjón Kjartansson, Hildigunnur Sverrisdóttir, Marcos Zotes, Rut Sigurmonsdóttir, Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir
Engineering: Verkís