While some of us would probably prefer a holiday getaway some place warm and tropical, for those who feel like embracing the cold weather, try Sweden’s ICEHOTEL. The world famous hotel, now in its eighteenth season, opened its first ten rooms this year on December 7. Currently, 80 more rooms are being built for completion by the first week of January.
Around mid-November each year, construction begins in the town of Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Large steel structures are sprayed with ice and snow to form a solid framework for the building, while different designers and artists are then brought in to give the hotel a new look.
It sounds kind of intimidating, but don’t worry, it’s not all ice rooms at the hotel -- they offer regular, insulated rooms as well. Ideally, you’d experience an ice room for one night, then cozy up in a warm room for the rest of your stay. The attractions sound just as neat, too: You can visit the Esrange Space Center, the scientific research base of theNorthern Lights, or go on an Arctic snowmobile safari. Though perhaps, the reason why people come back each year is the incredible ice art. The first ten rooms, known as the Art Suites, were created by an assortment of designers this year – from sculptors, illustrators, filmmakers to woodworkers. They include: Laura and Lele Trabb, Sakai Hiroyoshi, Maurizio Perron, Kestutis Musteikis, Oppen, Natsuki Manakata and Shingo Saito, James Drew and Ben Rousseau and Patrik Dallard. Interior Designer Ben Rousseau's room, called Operation Blade, is pictured here.
Photo via Dezeen
Link Times Online
