ICEHOTEL, sweden

Photo: Asaf Kliger

The ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi is the first hotel in the world to be built from snow and ice. Previously reconstructed annually at the start of winter, it has now added a year-round installation that runs on solar energy, enabling the hotel to operate sustainably during the summer months as well.  

The new building uses the abundant summer sunlight to chill the ice suites. The project was full of new challenges for COWI, and called for broad know-how and rich innovation.

A large solar power cooling plant will now keep the hotel rooms cool despite the summer heat and midnight sun.