New Luxury Hotel Opens at Iceland's Blue Lagoon
The Retreat, a new five-star hotel opened in April 2018 over Easter at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon, if you haven’t heard of it, is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions. Besides being in close proximity to this incredible body of water, guests have their own private access to a part of the lagoon from their suites, as well as a personal waiter.
The Retreat is literally built into the 800-year-old volcanic landscape that surrounds the Blue Lagoon’s milky blue geothermal waters. Guests can also enjoy Moss Restaurant, which offers all of the diversities of Icelandic cuisine including traditional lamb and fish dishes as part of a seven-course tasting menu.
Inspired by the increasing tourism at the Blue Lagoon site in the past few years, the hotel’s owners wanted to give guests a way to experience the incredible site with some amount of privacy. Being that the Lagoon is only a short drive from the international airport, the numbers of tourists are not likely to decrease soon.
The all-glass facade is built on the southwest side of the Blue Lagoon and is set into a complex of four parts that includes the private section of the Lagoon, an underground spa with fire pit and sauna, a luxury hotel with lounge and library and the Moss Restuarant. The complex is, of course, powered by the clean geothermal energy that surrounds it. The modern design of the building is inspired by the aesthetic of the surroundings. Inside, the colors and textures will also take gestures from the landscape and incorporate dark wood and Nordic minimalism with the occasional splashes of color. Each room will have its own balcony or terrace with private access to the mineral-rich lagoon.
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