Architecture

Sweden's Icehotel opens for business with amazing new ice sculptures

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Spruce Woods, by Jennie O'Keefe and Christopher Pancoe, depicts a classic VW microbus, and is one of the amazing handmade sculptures at this year's Icehotel
Asaf Kliger
Blossom, by Viktor Tsarski and Wouter Biegelaar, consists of multiple geometric shapes 
Asaf Kilger 
Dancing Auroras, by Emelie Steele and Sebastian Dell'Uva, is inspired by the northern lights and depicts ballet dancers
Design Emelie Steele and Sebastian Dell'Uva
Flock, by Lisa Lindqvist and Ulrika Tallving, is inspired by a moment spent standing beneath a flock of starlings
Asaf Kliger
Haven, by Jonas Johansson, Jordi Claramunt and Lukas Petko, envisions the bedroom as a mythical portal protected by two animals
Asaf Kliger
icewoman, by Linda Vagnelind, depicts a giant woman who loves to swim in cold water
Asaf Kliger
Lollipop, by  Luc Voisin and Mathieu Brison, aims to offer guests the experience of spending a night in a candy shop, albeit a very, very cold one
Asaf Kliger
Wisdom of the Oak, by Tjåsa Gusfors and Sam Gusfors, depicts an old oak tree
Asaf Kliger
Spruce Woods, by Jennie O'Keefe and Christopher Pancoe, depicts a classic VW microbus, and is one of the amazing handmade sculptures at this year's Icehotel
Asaf Kliger
The Living Ocean, by Jonathan Paul Green and Marnie Green, aims to highlight the importance of protecting the oceans
Asaf Kliger
The tao of cat, by Sonia Chow and Huschang Pourian, depicts a cat in quiet reflection 
Asaf Kliger
The Ice Hotel's main lobby 
Asaf Kliger
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It's that time of year again: the Swedish town of Jukkasjärvi is playing host to the annual Icehotel. Now in its 29th iteration, the frozen accommodation features amazing all-new handmade ice sculptures, including a classic VW bus, a candy store, and an underwater scene.

As was the case in previous years, the 29th Icehotel's construction was a significant undertaking involving the harvesting of thousands of ice blocks from a nearby frozen river and the use of "snice."

"To be able to cast the building, snice is produced – a mixture of snow and ice made of water from the river," explains the hotel's website. "The snice is sprayed onto molds, which are removed once the structure has consolidated. The rooms are constructed in a classic, catenary arch shape, which is self-supporting and incredibly strong. Room after room is filled with snow and ice in the right amounts, so when the artists arrive they can get started and immediately turn their sketches into reality."

The Icehotel includes warm rooms, a restaurant and bar, and a ceremony hall, as well as another adjacent solar-powered hotel that's open year-round, but obviously it's the new sub-zero art suites that everyone is keen to see. A total of 13 artists from 34 different countries were involved in creating the unique sculptures.

Haven, by Jonas Johansson, Jordi Claramunt and Lukas Petko, envisions the bedroom as a mythical portal protected by two animals
Asaf Kliger

Notwithstanding the VW bus sculpture, there's a strong nature theme this year, with oak trees, underwater scenes, and fantastical animals, like Haven, shown above, which envisions the bedroom as a mythical portal protected by a "Clever Fox" and "Fiery Fenix." Also of note are the hotel's ice chandeliers, which hold 1,000 ice crystals sculpted by hand.

The 29th Icehotel is now running until April 13, 2019, after which time it will close and begin to melt away. For those interested, a night in an art suite starts from 2,752 SEK (roughly US$306) – just remember to pack some warm socks as temperatures in the rooms are kept at -5° C (23 degrees Fahrenheit).

Head to the gallery to see a selection of the stunning sculptures available at the Icehotel.

Source: Icehotel

View gallery - 11 images
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