French design magazine ELLE Décoration explores Nordic bathing culture in its November issue, featuring GeoSea, the geothermal sea baths in Húsavík designed by Basalt Architects, and SOAK, Iceland's contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027.

In a six-page feature, French journalist Jean-Christophe Camuset explores the growing international interest in Nordic bathing traditions and the role of bathing spaces as places for relaxation, social interaction and community. Camuset visited Iceland in May during DesignMarch.

The article highlights GeoSea, the geothermal sea baths in Húsavík, as an example of architecture closely connected to its natural surroundings. Here, the landscape, ocean and sweeping views across Skjálfandi Bay shape the bathing experience.

The feature also introduces SOAK: Rituals of Collective Belonging, Iceland's contribution to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027. The project is a collaboration between Basalt Architects, Gagarín and illustrator Rán Flygenring, curated by Marcos Zotes, architect and partner at Basalt.

In an interview with the magazine, Marcos discusses the distinctive role of Icelandic swimming pools as social gathering places, bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds. This idea lies at the heart of SOAK, which explores how bathing culture and architecture can foster social connections and a sense of belonging.

The article, Chaud/Froid Nordique, appears in the November 2026 issue of ELLE Décoration (No. 338), pages 74–79.