Sundlaugin

Sundlaugin (Icelandic pronunciation: ​[ˈsʏntlœijɪn], the swimming pool) is a recording studio located near Álafoss in the town of Mosfellsbær in Iceland known for being the recording and rehearsal location of post-rock band Sigur Rós. The location was originally a swimming pool built in the 1930s which had been abandoned when Sigur Rós purchased it in 1999 and converted it and adjacent buildings into a studio.[1][2]

The band originally intended to record their third album, entitled ( ), in an abandoned NATO tracking base in the northernmost mountain in Iceland, but after inspection decided it was too impractical. Shortly after they found the abandoned pool lot in a rural neighborhood in Mosfellsbær. They bought the lot and transformed it into a studio. In order to fit the massive mixing console into the building, part of the roof was opened up and the console was lowered with a crane.[3]

Much of the band's photography and artwork is taken from the surrounding landscape, such as the art found on the first album recorded in the studio, ( ).[4]

The recording studio has also been used for recording, mixing and mastering (usually assisted by the studio's sound engineer Birgir Jón "Biggi" Birgisson) by a wide group of mainly Icelandic artists and bands, including:[5][6]

• Agent Fresco
• The Album Leaf
• Alcest
• amiina[7]
• Amusement Parks on Fire[8]
• Andŕum[9]
• Beneath
• Benni Hemm Hemm[10]
• Bubbi Morthens[7]
• Flying Hórses
• For a Minor Reflection
• Jakobínarína
• Julianna Barwick[11]
• Kira Kira[12]
• Langi Seli og Skuggarnir[13]
• Mammút[13]
• Mugison[7]
• Múm[14]
• Ólöf Arnalds[15]
• Pétur Ben[16]
• Retro Stefson
• Seabear[13]
• Self Defense Family
• Sin Fang[13]
• Ske
• Slowblow[17]
• Steindór Andersen
• Storsveit Nix Noltes
• Trevor Geir

As of 2020, Sundlaugin is owned by former Sigur Rós keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson.[1]