The Story OF ICEHOTEL
When winter arrives in Kiruna, the water in Torne River freezes and turns to ice. The ice is then harvested and transformed into art and architecture. ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi is unique and takes on new forms each year. When the spring sun starts to warm, the hotel and all its artworks melts and return to the river. An eternal cycle.
the Torne River
From the ancient mountains in the west to the Gulf of Bothnia in the east, the mighty 520-kilometer-long Torne River has been a lifeline for the people living along its shores for centuries. During winter, the river freezes and becomes part of the snow-covered landscape, and in summer it transforms into a flowing force through forests and mountains.
Torne River is one of Sweden’s four national rivers and one of the last untouched waterways in Europe. The unique relationship between ICEHOTEL and Torne River shows how nature and human creativity can coexist in harmony.
meeting place by the water
Jukkasjärvi is where the midnight sun glows in summer, only to never rise above the horizon in winter. A place where snow covers the landscape like a sparkling blanket eight months of the year and the northern lights dance across the sky in a magical display.
Here, you swap the noise of the city for a silence so profound that you can hear the snowflakes falling.
Jukkasjärvi has always been an important place and the name means "meeting place by the water" in Sámi. Here nature, culture, and history blend together and the proximity to ancient Sámi traditions provides a unique setting for visitors to the ICEHOTEL.
The visionary behind ICEHOTEL
The year was 1989 and the snow lay heavy over Jukkasjärvi. Right by the frozen Torne River, the founder of ICEHOTEL, Yngve Bergqvist, opened the doors to Arctic Hall, an art gallery built from ice and snow.
All the cabins in the village were fully booked, but a group of visitors needed a place to stay. Instead of turning them away, Yngve suggested they’d sleep inside the Arctic Hall.
Equipped with warm sleeping bags and careful instructions on how to sleep in the cold, the guests spent the night inside the igloo. The next morning, they woke up deeply fascinated by the experience.
ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi was born! What started as a simple idea on a cold winter night has today grown into a unique arctic adventure, famous around the world.
the creative process
Since its beginning in 1989, ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi has been more than just a hotel – it is a living art exhibition that changes and renews itself every year. A transient artwork where some of the world’s most creative minds tell a new story every winter, a place where art and nature meet and interact.
All art at ICEHOTEL is original and protected under trademark law, making it one of the most unique art experiences in the world. It’s a place where artistic visions come to life, and where unpredictability is part of the experience. Here, the most groundbreaking and innovative ideas from around the world come together, with Torne River contributing with its frozen water. The pure and clear ice becomes the perfect medium for a unique artistic expression.
A meeting place for art
At the beginning of each year, the ICEHOTEL opens up for applications for the next winter, inviting creators from all over the world to submit their ideas and concepts.
Out of around 150 design proposals, around 15 are selected, with artists ranging from graphic designers and architects to engineers. Diversity is important and the jury creates a balance between gender, origin, age and experience. The goal is to create a dynamic mix of influences and perspectives, giving each edition of the ICEHOTEL its unique character.
In November, the selected creators gather in Jukkasjärvi for an intense art symposium. The small village becomes a bustling place for artistic collaboration and creative exploration, where the ice from Torne River is transformed into spectacular artworks and hotel suites.
Where nature meets art
When the arctic winter arrives in Jukkasjärvi one of the most spectacular building processes in the world begins. This is when ICEHOTEL comes to life again and an intense period unfolds along the river’s edge.
For the team behind the ICEHOTEL, the construction is more than just a job – it is a tribute to nature’s conditions and an exciting challenge that requires flexibility, collaboration and harmony with the natural elements.
The building process starts in spring when massive blocks of ice are harvested from Torne River. Each block weighs up to two tons and is stored cold during the summer, ready for the winter and the construction of ICEHOTEL.
In addition to ice, “snice” (a mix of snow and ice) is also used for building the hotel’s floors, walls, and ceilings. Snice is not only beautiful to look at but also durable and reliable, making it ideal for creating the impressive structures of the ICEHOTEL.
A stable construction of snow and ice
To build ICEHOTEL, molds are used to give the buildings their proper shape. After a few days, the ice is strong enough to stand on its own and the molds are removed. The technical skill behind the construction of ICEHOTEL is impressive. Corridors and rooms are built in the same way as classic arches, which are incredibly stable. This makes the ice and snow not only beautiful to look at but also safe and durable.
The project takes six weeks from start to finish. Room after room is filled with just the right amount of snow and ice, so everything is ready for the artists when they arrive. They then begin the work of turning their designs into reality.
The construction of ICEHOTEL is an impressive achievement that combines architecture, art and natural materials. The ICEHOTEL is not just a building project but a living art installation reflecting nature’s transience and humanity’s ability to create beauty under challenging conditions. It requires many sets of hands, from harvesting to the final design details.
When spring arrives and the hotel melts back into the river, we are reminded of nature’s cycle – and the magic that can be created when we allow ourselves to be inspired by the wild and the temporary.
The magic of light brings the art to life
For many of the artworks, light plays a crucial role in creating the final experience. The light adds an extra dimension that makes each sculpture tell its own story.
Our lighting designers work side by side with the artists who create each hotel room, ensuring that the light not only illuminates but also enhances and highlights the art in the most magical way. It’s a symbiosis between art and light, where every beam helps create the unique feeling that makes each room its own work of art.