With demand for rooms at the ICEHOTEL, the world's first ice hotel in Sweden, soaring year after year, ICEHOTEL founder Yngve Bergqvist has opened a year-round venture, ICEHOTEL 365.
The 20 suites that comprise the new venture are decorated in the signature quirky style of the originalhotel, employing the creativity of some of the world's best ice sculptors to create artistic flights of fancy such as the 'Dancers in the Dark' suite and the 'You Are My Type' suite, featuring typography-inspired carvings in an otherworldly display.
Once Upon a Time deluxe suite
The new hotel sits next to the original, and also offers a stylish Ice Bar, Ice Gallery and Ice Chapel. The sculptures on view were dreamed up by more than 40 artists, including architects and designers, from nine countries, including ICEHOTEL veterans like Norway's Luca Roncoroni.
To ensure that the building stays cold even through the summer – without compromising its eco-friendly ethos – the new building will be powered by solar panels that take advantage of the Midnight Sun throughout the summer. Bergqvist says, 'The nature and environment are not only a huge source for inspiration for ICEHOTEL, but also a necessity to create the hotel year after year. Previously we said goodbye to our guests come spring, but thanks to help from the sun we now can invite them year-round'.
You Are My Type art suite
The new hotel has used 30,000 litres of water from the Torne River and takes up 2,100 square meters, making this a truly colossal undertaking. But there is more to enjoy than just the rooms. Anders Karkea, Activity Manager, says, 'It is fun to see that the visitors want to familiarize themselves with our culture. That is why we aside from the guided tour at Icehotel are offering a village walk; a tour through Jukkasjärvi, which has a long history as a meeting place for people from far and near'.
For more on ice hotels you can visit with Best Served, we recommend reading Secrets of the Ice Hotels and Comparing Ice Hotels.
