Arctic Aurora Spa Retreat | Descry Design
Arctic Aurora Spa Retreat by Yan Wang

Arctic Aurora Spa Retreat

Silver A' Design Award Winner 2025

This description presents an aerial view of a contemporary spa building set within a snow-covered winter landscape, scanning from the distant background forward to the foreground, beginning with the horizon where soft pale yellow sunlight diffuses through a hazy sky creating gentle warmth despite the frozen setting, rolling snow-covered hills extend across the background with scattered clusters of frost-covered deciduous trees appearing as delicate silver-grey lacework against the white terrain, moving into the middle ground the central architectural structure commands attention as a large elliptical form approximately sixty meters in diameter with a distinctive spiraling configuration, the roof appears snow-covered in pristine white with a smooth continuous surface that descends in a helical motion from its highest point toward a central circular opening perhaps ten meters across, three smaller circular apertures roughly two meters each punctuate the roof surface in diagonal arrangement, the building's perimeter features a band of warm amber-toned glazing perhaps three meters high that wraps continuously around the structure creating an effect like glowing honey or late afternoon sunlight, this warm tone feels welcoming against the cool blue-white of the surrounding snow, within the spiral descent vertical ribbed screening in warm wood tones is visible suggesting interior warmth, the texture of the roof reads as smooth and pristine like fresh snowfall on curved ice, the glazed band appears luminous and glowing, surrounding the building scattered frost-laden trees stand with crystalline branches that would feel crisp and delicate like spun sugar or frozen lace, in the lower foreground two small human figures walk along a cleared pathway toward the building providing scale and suggesting the structure rises perhaps two stories at its highest point, the overall atmosphere feels hushed and serene like the stillness after fresh snowfall with soft diffused light creating minimal shadows and a sense of contemplative calm throughout.

The Arctic Aurora is a sustainable spa, bathhouse, and guest retreat nestled in Bergen's mineral-rich countryside. Drawing inspiration from the Arctic aurora, the design channels the surrounding landscape into a tranquil inner sanctuary through its fluid, flowing form. Anchored by a simple circular geometry that enables water to move freely throughout the building, the program gradually shifts from public to private functions.