The original ICEHOTEL, located in Jukkasjrvi, Sweden and founded in 1989, is the world’s first and largest hotel made from ice and snow. The surreal structure serves as both an annual art symposium and a hotel with walls, floors, and even ceilings transformed into canvases for designers and architects from all different disciplines. Located 200km north of the Arctic Circle, during the winter the structure is built using materials from the nearby Torne River, and each spring Mother Nature reclaims these materials as the building melts to the ground. However, concept images have recently been released from Swedish PinPin Studio, with plans to create a sustainable and innovative way to keep the hotel open all year–by harnessing solar energy.
ICEHOTEL is located in a region that receives near constant daylight during the summer months. The new additions to the hotel will be powered exclusively by solar power during this time, ensuring the space can stay open and ice-cold all year long, rather than rebuilding from scratch each season. Plans for the new permanent subzero experience include a bar, art gallery, and suites for overnight stays, with a green roof. These additions mean that guests can visit in the summertime and enjoy hiking under the midnight sun, as well in the winter time when Northern lights and dog sledding are the name of the game.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2016.
ICEHOTEL: Website | Facebook | Instagram
PinPin Studio: Website | Facebook
via [Inhabitat, Contemporist]