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Umlykið, Wellness Retreat in Ísafjörður, Iceland

Aradóttir, Aþena LU (2025) AAHM10 20251
Department of Architecture and Built Environment
Abstract
Bathing has long been a part of human his
tory, not only as a hygienic practice, but as a
social, cultural and therapeutic ritual. Across
different cultures and climates, communal
bathing has offered moments of connec
tion, reflection and restoration. In Iceland,
this tradition continues through natural hot
springs and public pools, where water be
comes both a physical and emotional resource.
This project builds on that tradition by ex
ploring how architecture can deepen the
sensory experience of bathing. Through ele
ments such as sound, light, material, texture
and temperature, the retreat is designed to
engage the body and calm the mind, offering
a space not just to bathe, but to feel. The ar
chitecture unfolds... (More)
Bathing has long been a part of human his
tory, not only as a hygienic practice, but as a
social, cultural and therapeutic ritual. Across
different cultures and climates, communal
bathing has offered moments of connec
tion, reflection and restoration. In Iceland,
this tradition continues through natural hot
springs and public pools, where water be
comes both a physical and emotional resource.
This project builds on that tradition by ex
ploring how architecture can deepen the
sensory experience of bathing. Through ele
ments such as sound, light, material, texture
and temperature, the retreat is designed to
engage the body and calm the mind, offering
a space not just to bathe, but to feel. The ar
chitecture unfolds slowly, inviting presence
and stillness through carefully framed views,
atmospheric transitions and spatial rhythm.
The project is located just outside Ísafjörður,
a small town in Iceland’s Westfjords, where
geothermal water was recently discovered af
ter decades of searching. The retreat takes
advantage of this new energy source while
responding sensitively to the site’s coast
al terrain and ecological context. Built on
stilts, the circular structure lightly touches the
land, preserving natural movement beneath
and minimizing environmental disruption.
The goal of the project is to create a wellness
destination that strengthens the connection
between people and nature, grounded in Ice
landic tradition, but shaped by a contemporary
understanding of healing architecture and en
vironmental care (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Aradóttir, Aþena LU
supervisor
organization
course
AAHM10 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
9209458
date added to LUP
2025-08-21 09:49:32
date last changed
2025-08-21 09:49:32
@misc{9209458,
  abstract     = {{Bathing has long been a part of human his
tory, not only as a hygienic practice, but as a 
social, cultural and therapeutic ritual. Across 
different cultures and climates, communal 
bathing has offered moments of connec
tion, reflection and restoration. In Iceland, 
this tradition continues through natural hot 
springs and public pools, where water be
comes both a physical and emotional resource. 
This project builds on that tradition by ex
ploring how architecture can deepen the 
sensory experience of bathing. Through ele
ments such as sound, light, material, texture 
and temperature, the retreat is designed to 
engage the body and calm the mind, offering 
a space not just to bathe, but to feel. The ar
chitecture unfolds slowly, inviting presence 
and stillness through carefully framed views, 
atmospheric transitions and spatial rhythm. 
The project is located just outside Ísafjörður, 
a small town in Iceland’s Westfjords, where 
geothermal water was recently discovered af
ter decades of searching. The retreat takes 
advantage of this new energy source while 
responding sensitively to the site’s coast
al terrain and ecological context. Built on 
stilts, the circular structure lightly touches the 
land, preserving natural movement beneath 
and minimizing environmental disruption. 
The goal of the project is to create a wellness 
destination that strengthens the connection 
between people and nature, grounded in Ice
landic tradition, but shaped by a contemporary 
understanding of healing architecture and en
vironmental care}},
  author       = {{Aradóttir, Aþena}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Umlykið, Wellness Retreat in Ísafjörður, Iceland}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}