Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa by Yan Wang

Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa by Yan Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award in Mapangidwe a Nyumba, Zomanga ndi Zomangidwa Competition Category.

SilivaZomangamanga· 2025

Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa

by Yan Wang

Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award Winner in Zomangamanga Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #168458

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa

Arctic Aurora ndi malo a spa okhazikika, malo osambira, ndi malo opumira a alendo omwe ali m'midzi yodzaza ndi mchere ya Bergen. Pojambula chidwi kuchokera ku Arctic aurora, kapangidwe kake kakulowetsa malo ozungulira kukhala malo a mtendere amkati kudzera mu mawonekedwe ake oyenda ndi osinthika. Pogwiritsidwa ntchito ndi mawonekedwe ozungulira osavuta omwe amalola madzi kuti aziyenda momasuka m'nyumba yonse, ndondomekoyo imasinthasintha pang'onopang'ono kuchokera ku ntchito za pagulu kupita ku ntchito zachinsinsi.

The Recognition

About the Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award

Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa ndi mmodzi mwa opambana a Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award, kuzindikirika kolemekezeka modabwitsa komwe kumaperekedwa kwa mapangidwe a pamwamba, okongola ndi ochititsa chidwi. Opambana a Siliva ndi ntchito zowala kwambiri ndi zolenga kwambiri zomwe zimaonetsa ukatswiri, luso ndi nzeru zakuthwa za opanga awo. Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa akuyembekezeka kukhala ntchito yodabwitsa yoonetsedwa, yaukatswiri wapadera ndi yatsopano kwambiri. Mapangidwe opambana Mphoto ya Siliva ya A' Design Award awa ndi chopangidwa chodziwika kwambiri ndi choyamikiridwa chomwe chimapindulitsa ndi kukulitsa malire a luso, sayansi, kapangidwe ndi ukadaulo. Arctic Aurora Malo Opumira a Spa ndi cholengedwa chomwe anthu ambiri amachichitira nsanje, chomwe chimadzutsa zilakolako, kubweretsa maganizo abwino ndi kuyatsa kudabwa ndi chidwi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Arctic Aurora Spa Rertreat is an eco-friendly spa, bathhouse, and guest retreat set in Bergen's mineral-rich countryside. Inspired by the aurora in the Arctic sky, the design filters the external world into an inner sanctuary through a fluid, flowing form. Following a simple circular geometry which allow water to flow freely throughou the building, the function gets increasingly private. The spatial expression also transitions from an open and communal to an intimate human-scale space.
Dimensions & Packaging: 80m x 80m x 10m
Tags: Bathhouse, Arctic, Landscape, Water, Concept, SPA, Retreat,
Production Technology: The building's structure is made of cross-laminated timber sourced from local forests, ensuring sustainability and a strong connection to its surroundings. The exterior walls are finished with white-dyed clay, while the roof and opaque walls incorporate high-performance vacuum insulation to enhance thermal efficiency. In areas with storefront glazing, triple-glazed insulated glass units (TGUs) provide excellent acoustic, thermal, and energy performance. For mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, a geothermal pump is utilized for heating, further reinforcing the project's commitment to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Design Challenge: Architectural tectonics and technology present the primary challenge, particularly in achieving energy efficiency and thermal performance under arctic conditions. Innovative materials such as TGU (triple-glazed laminated glass units) and vacuum-insulated panels have been explored to optimize thermal insulation, ensuring both environmental performance and thermal comfort within the bathhouse.
Research: The project is rooted in the study of circulation and the spatial negotiation between public and private realms. The program of the bathhouse, encompassing lounge areas and gathering spaces, acts as a mediator along the gradient from intimate, secluded experiences to more communal, shared encounters.
Inspiration: The project is inspired by the aurora in the Arctic sky. It embraces the concepts of fluidity and flow, allowing water to move continuously throughout the bathhouse. The circulation path and function follow this natural movement, shaping the building into a circular form.
Project Duration: The project started in December 2021 in Bergen, Norwary
Operation Flow: The site is nestled in the rural landscape of Bergen, where the architectural composition is organized around a central atrium. Both circulation and thermal baths are choreographed along the perimeter of this opening, establishing a spatial sequence that blurs the boundary between interior and exterior. The stark contrast between the enclosed spaces and the surrounding nature, while maintaining a constant visual connection, offers guests a heightened sensorial experience.
Team Members: Yan Wang
Image Credits: Yan Wang