We’re proud to announce that The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland has been awarded the Sanctuary Award at AHEAD Global 2020.

Celebrating the best recently opened design hotels, resorts, and lodges around the world, the winners of the AHEAD Awards were revealed as part of a live digital ceremony on Thursday 10 December. In addition to triumphing in the Sanctuary category, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon also came third place overall globally.

Finalists were selected from a long list of 87 projects which won regional AHEAD Awards throughout 2019-2020. Regional winners competed head-to-head in eight brand new categories, with a prestigious panel of judges reviewing a total of 48 projects before casting their decisive votes.

Built directly into an 800-year-old lava flow in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, the Retreat at Blue Lagoon encompasses a subterranean spa, geothermal lagoon, a traditional Icelandic restaurant, and a 62-suite luxury hotel encircled by the Blue Lagoon’s mineral-rich waters. Working in close, multidisciplinary collaboration throughout the project, we designed the experience, the interiors with the collaboration of Basalt Architects. We also took care of the overall design strategy, style direction, branding, graphic design and signage, and product design, partnering with B&B Italia, Axor, iGuzzini, EFLA and Liska. The result is a destination where the seamless interplay of lava, moss, and water is woven into every facet of the guest journey.

Read the complete case study here and see all the award-winning projects here.

Congratulations to the entire extended team and all our partners!