Icehotel

The Icehotel is a hotel located in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, near the village of Kiruna. It is constructed entirely from ice and snow, with accommodation rooms, an ice bar, and an ice church, all carved from frozen Torne River water. The hotel is rebuilt annually during the winter months, with artists from around the world invited to design and create the individual ice suites.

Construction of the Icehotel begins in November each year when temperatures drop low enough for the river to freeze. Blocks of ice are harvested from the Torne River and then used by sculptors to build the structure. The hotel typically opens to guests in December and remains open until April, when the ice begins to melt and return to the river.

The Icehotel offers a unique accommodation experience, with guests sleeping on beds made of ice, covered with reindeer skins and warm sleeping bags. The temperature inside the rooms hovers around -5 to -8 degrees Celsius (23 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit). The hotel also features a main building that is open year-round, offering warm accommodation and dining, alongside a permanent exhibition of ice art.

The concept was first realized in 1989, inspired by a traditional igloo. Since then, it has become a significant tourist attraction, drawing visitors from across the globe who come to experience the ephemeral art and architecture. The Icehotel is a testament to the creative potential of ice as an artistic medium and a building material.