Sweden’s original ICEHOTEL has fascinated visitors since its opening in 1989. The hotel featuring walls, floors, and ceilings made from natural ice and snow doubles as an art exhibition and has featured works from artists from various creative backgrounds.
The tourist destination doesn’t operate all throughout the entire year though, because as spring comes along, ICEHOTEL melts completely. However, this is slated to change by the end of next year, because the design firm PinPin Studio plans to add a solar-powered structure that will withstand the heightened temperatures and last throughout the warmer months. The proposed ICEHOTEL addition will include a bar, an art gallery, and at least 20 suites as well as a green roof.
The area where ICEHOTEL is located is in a region of the world where the sun is visible for a full 24 hours during the summer. This means that for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the new addition to the hotel will be receiving the solar power it needs to prevent it from melting.
“This ground-breaking initiative lets our guests decide whether they want to combine ICEHOTEL with dog sledding and northern lights or hiking under the midnight sun. It just lets us meet the desires of our clients in a whole new way,” said Yngve Bergqvist, founder of ICEHOTEL.
December 2016 is when this ICEHOTEL addition is said to be completed.
Photos courtesy of Mymodernmet.com
