The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland has just won Architectural Design of the Year in the 2019 Architecture MasterPrize! This honor is bestowed on the one project that stands out from all 42 submission categories and hundreds of international submissions. This amazing and humbling distinction recognizes the hard work and ambition of the fantastic team of people who joined hands and worked in unison to realize this shared vision. Congrats to Designgroup Italia, Liska ehf., EFLA, Blue Lagoon Iceland, VSS, Jáverk and everyone involved. The award ceremony will take place in the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao on October 14th.
Retreat við Bláa Lónið vann verðlaun fyrir Besta Arkitektúr ársins 2019 í Architecture Masterprize. Þessi heiður er veittur því verkefni sem skarar framúr þvert á alla 42 flokka og hundruði innsendra tillagna. Þessi ótrúlega og auðmíkjandi viðurkenning er til vitnis um þá miklu vinnu og metnað sem hönnunarteymið vann í sameiningu við sköpun verksins. Verðlaunaafhending verður þann 14. október í Guggenheim safninu í Bilbao.
#basaltarchiects #designgroupitalia #liska #efla #verkfræðistofasuðurnesja #jáverk #retreatbluelagooniceland #bluelagooniceland #architecturemasterprize #amp #amp2019 #architecturemasterprize2019
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our open house during DesignMarch. It was wonderful to see so many people stop by and share the evening with us. Here’s a short video capturing the atmosphere of the night.
Great news! Basalt Architects has been selected to further develop the design of a new cultural centre at Smáralind.
The cultural centre will be located within a 900 m² space in the eastern part of Smáralind and is envisioned as an open and dynamic environment combining a library, event facilities, and creative workspaces for a diverse group of users.
The evaluation of proposals placed emphasis on a clear concept, strong flow, accessibility, flexibility, usability, sustainability, and feasibility.
We look forward to continuing the development of the project in collaboration with @heimarhf and @kopavogsbaer_ , contributing to further strengthening Smáralind as a vibrant destination for culture and everyday life.
The centre is expected to open in spring 2027.
Our project at Katla Global Geopark @katlageopark has been awarded the 2025 Icelandic Tourist Board @icetouristboard Environmental Prize. Representatives from the Geopark, Rangárþing Eystra @rangarthingeystra and Landowners at Þorvaldseyri received the prize. Congratulations to all involved, and thank you for a great collaboration.
Verkefnið okkar fyrir Kötlu Jarðvang hlaut umhverfisverðlaun Ferðamálastofu 2025. Fulltrúar Jarðvangsins, Rangárþings Eystra og Landeigendur á Þorvaldseyri tóku við verðlaununum. Til hamingju allir sem tóku þátt og takk fyrir frábært samstarf.
When EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL erupted, the very name was engrained in millions of people's memories as they struggled to pronounce it. Since the eruption, people have streamed to the location to capture a picture of the glacier with Þorvaldseyri in the foreground, sometimes standing on Highway One for the shot. This intervention is a safety measure but at the same time gives informative geological information to deepen visitor's understanding of the eruption, it's impact and the Katla Global Geopark region.
#basaltarchitects #katlaglobalgeopark #rangárþingeystra #ferðmálastofa #icelandictouristboard #framkvæmdasjóðurferðamannastaða #þorvaldseyri #kolofon #eyjafjallajökull
We are excited and proud to see Garðurinn in Smáralind open today! Basalt have had the pleasure of working with @heimarhf and a big team of talented, passionate people who have worked hard to make this project a reality. Go to Garðurinn, have a look, taste and enjoy some music and nice atmosphere.
Við erum spennt og stolt að sjá Garðinn Mathöll opna í dag í Smáralind. Við höfum átt einstaklega ánægjulegt samstarf við Heima og stórt teymi hæfileikaríks og ástríðufulls fólks sem hefur lagt hart að sér að láta þetta verkefni verða að veruleika. Kíkið við, njótið matar og tónlistar í notalegu umhverfi.
More info here: https://www.mbl.is/matur/frettir/2025/11/27/ny_matholl_opnud_i_smaralind_i_dag
#basaltarchitects #garðurinn #smáralind #heimarhf
Ljósmynd: Róbert Arnar
"We’ve always had active volcanoes. But what’s happening now on Reykjanes is something else. Experts believe we may have entered a new cycle, perhaps 300 years of increased activity in the area. It has affected our work.”
— @hrolfurkarl , partner and architect at @basaltarchitects
From Rum’s cover story in issue 9, about creating architecture in Iceland – with nature as a collaborator.
Photo @nannespringer
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"Vi har alltid haft aktiva vulkaner, men det som händer nu på Reykjanes är något annat. Experterna tror att vi kan ha gått in i en ny cykel, kanske 300 år av ökad aktivitet i området. Det har påverkat vårt arbete.”
— Hrólfur Karl Cela, partner och arkitekt på Basalt Arkitektar.
Ur Rums cover story i nr 9, om att skapa arkitektur på Island med naturen i högsätet.
Basalt Architects welcome you to the Nordic Pavilion at the Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan for a full day of crosscultural exchange on October 2nd.
"Designing Welbeeing Cities" explores how design can foster wellbeing in its many forms: through wellness, inclusion, connection, belonging, and collaboration.
The event is organized by the Nordic architecture and design centers in collaboration with the Nordic embassies in Tokyo and the Nordic countries' export and marketing offices.
@expo2025japan@icelanddesignandarchitecture@inspiredbyiceland
Basalt arkitektar fara í frí fimmtudaginn 18. september. Ekki hafa áhyggjur, við mætum aftur á mánudaginn eldfersk.
Basalt architects are going on holiday Thursday the 18th of September. But no worries, we will be back fresh on Monday.
We are delighted to see our @gudlaugbaths featured in the latest issue of the esteemed @au_magazine . In this special edition, the topic of waterscapes is explored in 17 projects across the Nordic countries.
Við erum stolt af því að Guðlaug er meðal verkefna í nýjasta tölublaði hins virta a+u tímarits. Í þessu sérblaði er fjallað um arkitektúr og samband hans við vatn í 17 verkefnum á Norðurlöndunum.
#basaltarchitects #au_magazine #guðlaug #gudlaug