Thermal Bath Iceland

Iceland's geothermal bathing culture has shaped a distinct architectural typology, in which pools, changing buildings and terraces are arranged around naturally heated water and a volcanic landscape. Designers working on these projects must balance shelter from wind and cold with open views and direct contact with the ground. Thermal baths also raise questions about circulation, sequencing and how a visitor moves from the built environment into the natural one.

Members on uni.xyz have explored thermal bath proposals through several recurring approaches, including looping paths, grass-covered banks, skylit pavilions and raised concrete rings over steaming water. Several projects treat the bath as a village or a walkable landscape rather than a single building, and others focus on architecture as a means of bringing visitors closer to the natural setting.