The Iceland Design Awardswere given out for the fifth time 2 November 2018.

The Iceland Design Awards were given out for the fifth time 2 November 2018. The ceremony took place at Kjarvalsstaðir,with Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir presenting awards in front of a full house. 

The Iceland Design Awards are highly significant for Icelandic society. Although the importance of design in our culture, society, and business is increasing, it is still important to draw attention to and deepen the understanding of the value of good design, as well as the value of design and creative thinking across professional disciplines.

Basalt Architects won the Iceland Design Award 2018 for architecture in Icelandic bathing culture. They have contributed greatly to the development of baths and bathing culture in Iceland. Recent examples include The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, which they co-designed with Design Group Italia, and the GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths in Húsavík.

Basalt Architects have a unique ability to intertwine architecture and landscape and have become a role model in designing nature baths in Iceland. The architecture is of the highest quality with every detail deliberated over and spaces designed with respect. Their architecture creates a humble framework inviting guests to a unique experience in the remarkable nature around Iceland.

The award for best investment in design is given to a company that has incorporated design and architecture into the core of its operations with the purpose of increasing value creation and competitiveness.

Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur was awarded “Best Investment“ in Design 2018. To work on the exhibition, the Lava Centre hired excellent interactive designers at Gagarín,who collaborated closely with Basalt Architects, which also designed the building that houses the exhibition. Sigurður Hannesson, the director general of the Federation of Icelandic Industries, presented the award to Bárður Örn Gunnarsson, one of the owners of the Lava Centre.

The LAVA CENTRE is an example of an ambitious project in the tourist industry. It uses the tools of design to explain in a captivating way the scientific knowledge behind the epic forces of nature that shape our planet and created Iceland millions of years ago. Basalt Architects designed the building, and the exhibition design is the cooperative work of Gagarín interactive designers and Basalt Architects. The result is a clear example of added value by good design.

Three other projects were shortlisted for awards: The visual identity for the publisher Angústúra, designed by graphic designers Snæfríð Þorsteinsdóttir and Hildigunnur Gunnarsdóttir; Catch of the Day, a project by Björn Steinar Blumenstein; and Norðurbakki, designed by PKdM Architects and Teiknistofan Storð. Read more here!

The Iceland Design Centre gives out the awards in partnership with the Museum of Design and Applied Arts, the Iceland University of the Arts, the Federation of Icelandic Industries, The National Power Company of Iceland, and Promote Iceland.

The awards that were presented were designed by Elsa Jónsdóttir and Björn Loki Björnsson atKrot & Krass in collaboration with Krístín María Sigþórsdóttir.

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The Iceland Design Award 2018 goes to… Basalt Architects!

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