Ice Hotel
An ice hotel is a temporary hotel made up of snow, sculpted blocks of ice, and, in some cases, some steel framing. They are promoted by their sponsors and have special features for travellers who are interested in novelties and unusual environments, and thus are in the class of destination hotels. Their lobbies are often filled with ice sculptures, and food and drinks are specially chosen for the circumstances.
All of the ice hotels are reconstructed every year, and are dependent upon constant sub-freezing temperatures during construction and operation. The walls, fixtures, and fittings are made entirely of ice or compacted snow, and are held together using a substance known as snice, which takes the place of mortar in a traditional brick-built hotel.
All of the ice hotels are reconstructed every year, and are dependent upon constant sub-freezing temperatures during construction and operation. The walls, fixtures, and fittings are made entirely of ice or compacted snow, and are held together using a substance known as snice, which takes the place of mortar in a traditional brick-built hotel.
How it was built?
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 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.
To be able to create ICEHOTEL and ensuring its construction; provide support to the artists and setting the lights, the construction is done in several phases. As one section is completed, it opens to visitors and overnight guests, while the other sections are still under construction.
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.
To be able to create ICEHOTEL and ensuring its construction; provide support to the artists and setting the lights, the construction is done in several phases. As one section is completed, it opens to visitors and overnight guests, while the other sections are still under construction.