As soon as winter begins, a team of snow builders, architects, designers and artists from all over the world gather in the little town of Jukkasjärvi (Sweden) far north of the Arctic Circle. Under the direction of the ICEHOTEL Art & Design Group, they create each year’s version of ICEHOTEL.
The building process starts in mid-November when the snow guns start humming and large clouds of snow start to drift along the Torne River.
The snow is sprayed on huge steel forms and allowed to freeze. After a couple of days, the forms are removed, leaving a maze of free-standing corridors of snow.
In the corridors, dividing walls are built in order to create rooms and suites. Ice blocks, harvested at springtime from Torne River, are now being transported into the hotel where selected artists from all over the world start creating the art and design of the persihable material.
Some of them are experienced ice artists, some of them have never experienced temperature below sub zero. Experienced or not, each year they create new and unique art and design at ICEHOTEL.
This year’s artists come from 15 countries, among others: Argentina, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Norway and The Netherlands. They will arrive in Jukkasjärvi in two turns/teams. The first team will build from 6th until 24th November and the second team between 20th November until 8th December.
When the hotel is completed, a hectic time begins. Thousands of guests will sleep in rooms made of ice and snow, over a hundred couples will share wedding vows in the Ice church and many cold drinks will be enjoyed in ABSOLUT ICEBAR.
Interior
Guests sleep in sleeping bags, atop reindeer hides and matresses that cover a block of ice. ICEHOTEL promises that the room temperature never falls below minus eight degrees Celcius, which provides just enough insulation to protect the ice from melting and exhilirate guests awake. The hotel has 47 rooms which accomodate approximately 50 – 60,000 guests per year. It closes in mid-April as the ice begins to melt, providing a clean slate for the following year as the water runs back into the Torne River.
Already using all natural materials and man power, ICEHOTEL is continuing its effort to be CO2 negative by 2015 by incorporating renewable energy used such as wind, hydro, solar energy and biofuels. The effort is an example of what could be done even in the most severe climates: where it is dark and cold for the most of the year.
In ICEHOTEL #22 there will be 1 Deluxe suite, 16 Art suites, 20 ice rooms, 8 snow rooms and 2 group rooms. There will be 47 rooms in total during the winter season of 2011/2012.
The Environment
Torne River it the source or our inspiration and the building material of ICEHOTEL. Each summer, we give back the loan to the river and ICEHOTEL is once again fresh, flowing water. But our activities affect the climate after all. That is why we decided to be become CO2negative (carbon dioxide negative) by the year 2015.
To achieve the goal we will produce, by our selves and in partnership with Gävle Energi, more renewable energy than we consume. Part of this production will take place in Jukkasjärvi. Here you can follow our work towards becoming CO2negative together with Gävle Energi, under the brand name Källmärkt (‘Source-Labelled’).
History
ICEHOTEL began as a workshop and art exhibit by founder
Yngve Bergqvist in 1989 when he invited artists to participate in workshop led by two Japanese ice sculptors. The first project unveiled was a 60 m2 igloo named ARTic Hall. The following years, ARTic Hall grew to 250 m2. The technique and final product attracted favorable attention and was used for church services, films and a bar. The technique was patented and protected and soon guests began to stay overnight – now two decades later, ICEHOTEL is thriving on the unique experiences it offers and the artistry it exhibits. The amenities offered at the hotel include access to the wilderness of the Arctic Circle, views of the Northern Lights, warm accomodations and the
ICEBAR, among many others.
Steel before snow is sprayed on.
One of the rooms.
Ice Church.
