Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base is nominated to the Icelandic Design Awards
Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base by Blue Lagoon DesignTeam, Basalt Architects and Design Group Italia is nominated as Place of the Year at the Icelandic Design Awards 2024. The award ceremony will take place in Gróska on November 7th.
From the jury:
Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base provides an exciting expansion of possibilities to a historical recreational area through well-designed facilities and a diverse selection of leisure activities and services. Kerlingarfjöll is now a year-round destination in the majestic but fragile landscape of the Icelandic highlands. Universal design is its focus, and its development, from early drafting to interior design, stays true to the area’s geological relics and formations, as well as its status as a natural reserve.
The design is based on BREEAM, the Sustainable Building Certification, and the use of sustainable materials such as recycled wood and locally extracted stone. Shapes and materials echo the surrounding wilderness as the design plays on the border between the constructed and the natural environment. This is evident in the design and lighting of pathways, which magnify the unique experience of nature. Guided by the aspects of environment and inclusion, the area has been made accessible to as many people as possible, for example by offering various kinds of accommodation.
The facilities in Kerlingarfjöll meet the requirements of modern tourism while also honoring the area's previous history that is precious to many people.
About:
The Blue Lagoon design team, Basalt architects & Design Group Italia
The Blue Lagoon design team is led by Sigurður Þorsteinsson, Chief Brand, Marketing and Design Officer at the Blue Lagoon. He has worked with the Blue Lagoon since 1997, where he has been involved in design and brand development, including The Retreat, Blue Lagoon´s luxury hotel. He was Chief Design Director at Design Group Italia for 25 years, where he worked for clients such as PepsiCo, Unilever, B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, ABB, Kone, 3M, and UNICEF. Baldur Helgi Snorrason is an architect who has worked on various design-oriented projects since he started working at the Blue Lagoon.
Basalt Architects was founded in 2009 and consists of a talented group of architects, architects and designers led by Hrólfur Cela, Marcos Zotes, Perla Dís Kristinsdóttir and Sigríður Sigþórsdóttir.
Design Group Italia is a design studio based in Milan and New York. It was founded in 1968 and deals with a wide range of design including product design, digital design, brand design and spatial design.
Partners are Efla engineering firm, Ferill engineering firm and Hildiberg design house
The Icelandic Design Awards will take place in Gróska on November 7th - save the date! Stay tuned as we will be announcing the nominations in the upcoming days.
The Icelandic Design Award honours the best Icelandic design and architecture. The importance of design in our society, culture and business has been growing steadily, and it is therefore vital to increase the understanding of good design and highlight the value of quality.
The Icelandic Design Award is awarded in three categories: Product // Place // Project. In addition, the Icelandic Design Awards also include Honorary award and Recognition for the best investment in design.
The Icelandic Design Award is established by Iceland Design and Architecture in collaboration with the Iceland University of the Arts, the Museum of Design and Applied Art, Promote Iceland, The Housing and Construction Authorities of Iceland, SI - the Federation of Icelandic Industries, The University of Iceland Science Park and Gróska.
