Welcome to Nordhús Highland Retreat, a boutique hotel imagined for those who seek more than a place to stay, where every detail is intentional and the silence says enough.
Nordhús Highland Retreat is a conceptual brand created for a boutique hotel imagined in the middle of Iceland’s Highlands. From positioning to visual identity, we built a complete brand experience that feels grounded, immersive and connected to the elements. Designed for the high-end hospitality space, Nordhús shows how atmosphere and story can shape beauty and calm in one of the harshest places on earth.
Nordhús Highland Retreat is a conceptual boutique hotel hidden away in the remote Icelandic Highlands. Built for the high-end adventure traveler who’s looking for bold exploration without giving up comfort, Nordhús is not your typical hotel. It provides its guests with exclusivity, privacy, and a real connection to the land. The retreat’s brutalist architecture is softened by natural materials like wood and stone, similar to the muted, earthy colors of the Highlands. Every choice, from renewable energy to eco-friendly materials, reflects Nordhús’s commitment to sustainability and authenticity. Here, design and nature coexist, working together, creating a space that feels grounding and awe-inspiring.
Nordhús saw a clear gap in Iceland’s travel industry where high-end hotels didn’t feel connected to the landscape, and adventure lodges weren’t really that comfortable or private. Nordhús wanted to change that by setting an ambitious goal: to build a retreat in one of Iceland’s most remote and untouched areas, where guests could fully enjoy nature and adventure without sacrificing comfort. They needed a brand and an online presence that captured their unique proposition.
To bring Nordhús to life, we knew that we had to make sure every element of the brand would feel inseparable from the highlands themselves. We began with an in-depth study of the mood, looking at things like light, shadows, weather, and terrain. Here we learned about the land, culture, and what high-end adventurers would expect from their travels.
The color palette came directly from the land, it’s volcanoes, basalt rocks, lava streams, and glaciers. It stands as a reminder of the long winter nights and the harsh environment Nordhús is located in. The result is a palette that feels sophisticated and blends well with the hotel’s natural surroundings.
We wanted the typography to be both sophisticated and minimalist. It had to feel authentic. The main typeface is modern and clean, fitting the brutalist architecture of the hotel. The secondary typeface is a delicate serif, giving the identity a softer, human feel. Both typefaces represent Nordhús’s strong, bold architecture balanced with luxury and comfort.
Inspired by the basalt columns of Stuðlagil canyon, the sans-serif logo is bold and geometric. It feels confident, solid, and minimalist. The accent on the “U” is a subtle nod to the Icelandic language and identity.
We built the Nordhús brand from the ground up, starting with the minimalist visual identity, typography system, color palette, and brand style guidelines. We created a confident and evocative brand voice and messaging framework based on the promise “Escape into Iceland’s raw beauty”, and made sure that the core identity was used at every guest touchpoint. No detail was missed.
The signage uses a limited color palette and materials like brushed metal and matte-finished wood to connect the interior with the landscape. The printed materials, like the room keys, welcome brochures, and restaurant menus, are minimalistic, use eco-friendly materials, and are with plenty of white space to reflect the physical and mental breathing room that guests may find here.
For social media, we designed a flexible system that let the images speak for themselves. Minimalist typographic overlays and carefully balanced negative space keep the focus on the architecture and the landscape while making sure that every post feels like Nordhús.
We made the website equally as immersive, with large images, minimalist design, and plenty of breathing room. It uses a clear and uncluttered navigation that gives the guest a calm and serene feeling, whilst connecting to the adventurous spirit.
