Icehotel - yes...made from Ice. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Blackthorn · 12-27-2004, 08:08 PM

On the discovery HD channel they ran a documentary on the construction of this place. The video footage of this was incredible. I've linked up a few photos here along with the quotation from it's web site. Interesting....would you spend a night in a hotel made entirely from ICE?

Linkyness to ICEHOTEL

There are some great panoramics available at the following link: Icehotel panorama tour

Quote:

The Story of Icehotel

In Swedish Lapland, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, lies the village of Jukkasjärvi on the River Torne. Jukkasjärvi in Saami (Lappish) means "meeting place ", which is what the former Saami village has been for half a millennium. Icehotel AB, the company that runs Icehotel, has worked with tourism since the mid-1970s, and offers a wide range of activities such as white-water rafting, fishing, visits to a Saami camp, reindeer and dogsledding tours.
Before Icehotel, very few tourists came to Jukkasjärvi during the long, dark, cold and snowy winters. In 1989 however, Jukkas AB (now Icehotel AB) decided to look upon winter as an asset instead.

Hotel Entrace ---------------------- Hotel Bar

It all started when, in 1989, some Japanese ice artists visited Jukkasjärvi, resulting in a much talked-about and written-about exhibition of ice art. Shortly afterwards, in spring 1990, a cylinder-shaped igloo was built directly on the ice of the River Torne, where an exhibition by the French artist Jannot Derid opened. Hundreds of visitors stared in amazement at the 60-square-metre art gallery, which was given the name Artic Hall. One night, some guests even spent the night there, in sleeping bags on reindeer skin - and the next morning they were ecstatic about the experience. Artic Hall was never meant to be used as a hotel, but the guests, well rested, assured us that it had been a warm and intense experience.

The Icehotel concept was born!

Icehotel, now in its thirteenth year, is continuing its successful and celebrated career as the world's biggest hotel made entirely of ice and snow. From its modest beginnings as a single room thirteen years ago, Icehotel has grown to 5,000 square metres built of 30,000 tons of snow and 4,000 tons of ice.
In the winter season 2001/ 2002, more than 14,000 guests spent the night in Icehotel and 37,000 day visitors walked in through the reindeer-skin covered doors. In this 60-room wintry fairy-tale land, there is a hotel reception, hall of pillars, Iceart exhibition, Absolut Icebar, Icehotel cinema, the fantastic Icechurch and of course hotel rooms. In the evening, the guests assemble in Absolut Icebar to have a drink "in the rocks" from iceglasses sculpted from the ice of the River Torne.

The Icechurch is a consecrated room of snow and ice in which church services, weddings and christenings take place.

At the end of October, around thirty local artists and builders start work, ahead of the arrival of the first guests in mid-December. Snow canons and front loaders help to form the snow over arched steel sections, some as big as 5 metres in height and 6 metres across. Two days later, the sections are moved and are ready to use somewhere else. The ice pillars are then put in place to give extra strength to the self-supporting snow arches.

In March, ice is harvested from the River Torne with the help of tractors and special ice saws which were developed here in Jukkasjärvi. The pure river water, in combination with the fast-flowing current, gives crystal-clear ice. The ice blocks, weighing almost 2 tons, are stored in our freeze-house for export and processing. Much of the stored ice is used in constructing next year's Icehotel.

By the beginning of December, the main building is almost finished and the interior work begins. This continues until the end of January. With an indoor temperature of around five below zero, working conditions are relatively comfortable compared to the outdoor temperature, which can drop lower than forty below zero. Working to late in the evening, the sculptors cut and work the ice to create things like interior decorations, windows, doors, pillars, furniture, lamps and naturally - sculptures. Specially invited Swedish and international guests artists come every year to design the décor in certain rooms.

The varied styles of the many artists, together with the properties of the ice, create a unique atmosphere: not unlike that in a museum, in fact - filled with magic, mystique and surprises for the visitors as they wander from room to room.

In winter 2000, a new chapter in the story of Icehotel AB began when operations were extended across the Atlantic - and co-operation began with Icehotel Québec in Canada. In the beautiful area of Duchesnay outside Québec, Icehotel Québec opens in January and closes at the end of March.
For more information, visit:
http://www.icehotel-canada.com/

Another new chapter began in winter 2003 with the construction of "Ice Globe Theatre" - a replica of Shakespeare's "Globe Theatre" on the Thames in London. The project attracted large numbers of guests to the region. The building was a highly interesting challenge in its own right, and the goal was to unite that bastion of the Thespian arts, The Globe, with the beauty and magic of Icehotel.

Sadly, the sun's rays begin to melt the newly built Icehotel in late April. Although the last guests check out at the end of April, work continues into June, by which time Icehotel has become water hotel. To get a head start on the following winter season, the builders insulate thousands of tons of ice in Icehotel Art Center - a freezer covering 1,500 square metres, where there is also an ice and snow exhibition designed to give visitors a taste of Icehotel.

Of Icehotel itself, the sculptors save just a few works of art from the preceding winter season in the Art Center, and the rest of the hotel is left to melt away. Nature's own short-term gift gives an opportunity to experiment with form, space, and technique every year; and just like snow flakes, no two Icehotels are ever identical. The beauty, and the parts we are not completely happy with, run back into the River Torne and make way for next winter's version of Icehotel. From this river, the ideas of the summer shall find expression in the creations of the coming winter.
From the river came the ice, and to the river it shall return; all that will remain are memories.

The Absolut ICEBAR at the Icehotel

Guests in a room at the Icehotel

Naked room at the Icehotel

Guests enjoying (*eyes rollin*) a drink at the bar

maleficent · 12-27-2004, 08:34 PM

They'd have to do better than Absolut to get me there... Grey Goose or Ketel One perhaps...

Now, there's nothing worse that getting up in the middle of the might and putting your feet on an ice cold bath room floor and sitting on an ice cold commode... I'm thinking having a commode made out of ice... and floors made out of ice wouldn't be my idea of a good time.

Seriously, I'd probably go for a night for the novelty of it... but.. eh...

Hard8s · 12-27-2004, 08:52 PM

Wasn't this in one of the James Bond Movies???

darens42 · 12-27-2004, 08:54 PM

i saw that one too - looked very cool (pun maybe intended)

the crappers were in a seperate (heated) building nearby

what i thought was interesting was all the different artists that came in to each do up a room

that and the fact that the glasses at the bar were all made of ice "...instead of ice in your drink, how about a drink in your ice?"

bigd999 · 12-27-2004, 09:21 PM

I watched this the other night too, I thought it was awesome! I was ready to go build my own ice house by the end of it but of course theres not enough snow in Texas......

Theres allways something holding me back!

That ice bar with the cathedral ceiling was absolutely stunning!

omega2K4 · 12-27-2004, 09:23 PM

Iceglasses, sweet. Those would rock for vodka.

fastom · 12-27-2004, 10:50 PM

ahhh.... cool.

Redjake · 12-28-2004, 11:03 AM

I think this was in Die Another Day (James Bond). In fact I'm almost positive it was. Thcore!

Averett · 12-28-2004, 11:04 AM

The Ice Bar was featured in this seasons Amazing Race.

Rdr4evr · 12-28-2004, 11:33 AM

That is badass. I would love to spend Summer there since its always so damn hot and disgusting here. I love cold weather.

raeanna74 · 12-28-2004, 11:55 AM

How do they do the lighting? Do they perhaps run wires temporarily?? I'm seeing lights behind the ice and things, I can't imagine it all being battery operated.

Yeah there was an icepalace in Die Another Day just rewatched that one this weekend.

StephenSa · 12-28-2004, 12:38 PM

I saw that show on Discovery as well. I'd love to spend a night there, cold has never bothered me (I miss Chicago winters) and I think it would be a unique experience. My wife on the other hand would have none of it!

Cynthetiq · 12-28-2004, 01:15 PM

We were thinking of getting married at the Icehotel but it was even a bit difficult for us Iceland loving people to get there easily and cheaply.

It's supposed to be an amazing place and you can see the northern lights from the skylight in your room under the reindeer pelts.

SiN · 12-28-2004, 01:40 PM

damn... really cool and sexy, methinks.

reminds me of glass blocks, which I've always thought would be cool to build with on a mass scale.

ICER · 12-29-2004, 03:42 PM

whoa, sounds like my kind of place.

bigd999 · 12-29-2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeanna74

How do they do the lighting? Do they perhaps run wires temporarily?? I'm seeing lights behind the ice and things, I can't imagine it all being battery operated.

Yeah there was an icepalace in Die Another Day just rewatched that one this weekend.

Yeah they come in after all the walls are up and cut power lines into the walls then fill them back in.

Thermopyle · 01-18-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdr4evr

That is badass. I would love to spend Summer there since its always so damn hot and disgusting here. I love cold weather.

You would be disapointed. In nother Sweden during the summer, the temperature is around 15 to 25 celsius. The ice hotel only exists from December to March when the temp is about -30 to -10 celsius. But don't let that scare you. The humidity is low so it doesn't fell that cold.

Lunatic · 01-18-2005, 09:17 AM

Wow this place looks so awesome, I would like to go there for a few days, God knows how much fun it can be. By the way does anybody know where is that hotel or motel underwater located? When I saw this it reminded me of it.

Charlatan · 01-18-2005, 09:21 AM

I would love to go to either this one or the one in Quebec (it's a little closer) but my wife made it very clear that she definately doesn't want to go. She hates being cold.

She spends a lot of time teaching kids to ride horses... she does this outside or in an unheated but covered practice ring.

I got her electricly heated socks for Christmas...

Cervantes · 01-18-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hard8s

Wasn't this in one of the James Bond Movies???

I think it was in Die another day. But maybe it was the one in Quebec.
Anyway, My parent's spent a couple of nights there riding the dogsleds and stuff.. They said it was awesome.

Zephyr66 · 01-18-2005, 04:51 PM

Im pretty sure it wasn't the one in quebec. I think it was supposed to be in russia or something

12-27-2004, 08:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	They'd have to do better than Absolut to get me there... Grey Goose or Ketel One perhaps... Now, there's nothing worse that getting up in the middle of the might and putting your feet on an ice cold bath room floor and sitting on an ice cold commode... I'm thinking having a commode made out of ice... and floors made out of ice wouldn't be my idea of a good time. Seriously, I'd probably go for a night for the novelty of it... but.. eh... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

12-27-2004, 08:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	Wasn't this in one of the James Bond Movies??? __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!

12-27-2004, 09:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
omega2K4 Natalie Portman is sexy. Location: The Outer Rim	Iceglasses, sweet. Those would rock for vodka. __________________ "While the State exists there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State." - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin "Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."- Karl Marx

12-28-2004, 11:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	I think this was in Die Another Day (James Bond). In fact I'm almost positive it was. Thcore! __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

12-28-2004, 11:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	The Ice Bar was featured in this seasons Amazing Race. __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

12-27-2004, 08:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
darens42 Crazy Location: Dallas	i saw that one too - looked very cool (pun maybe intended) the crappers were in a seperate (heated) building nearby what i thought was interesting was all the different artists that came in to each do up a room that and the fact that the glasses at the bar were all made of ice "...instead of ice in your drink, how about a drink in your ice?"

12-27-2004, 09:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigd999 Tilted Location: Dallas, TX	I watched this the other night too, I thought it was awesome! I was ready to go build my own ice house by the end of it but of course theres not enough snow in Texas...... Theres allways something holding me back! That ice bar with the cathedral ceiling was absolutely stunning!

12-27-2004, 10:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
fastom Psycho Location: way out west	ahhh.... cool.

12-28-2004, 11:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
Rdr4evr Banned	That is badass. I would love to spend Summer there since its always so damn hot and disgusting here. I love cold weather.

12-28-2004, 11:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	How do they do the lighting? Do they perhaps run wires temporarily?? I'm seeing lights behind the ice and things, I can't imagine it all being battery operated. Yeah there was an icepalace in Die Another Day just rewatched that one this weekend. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

12-28-2004, 12:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
StephenSa Psycho Location: Dallas, Texas	I saw that show on Discovery as well. I'd love to spend a night there, cold has never bothered me (I miss Chicago winters) and I think it would be a unique experience. My wife on the other hand would have none of it!

12-28-2004, 01:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	We were thinking of getting married at the Icehotel but it was even a bit difficult for us Iceland loving people to get there easily and cheaply. It's supposed to be an amazing place and you can see the northern lights from the skylight in your room under the reindeer pelts. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

12-28-2004, 01:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
SiN strangelove Location: ...more here than there...	damn... really cool and sexy, methinks. reminds me of glass blocks, which I've always thought would be cool to build with on a mass scale. __________________ - + - ° GiRLie GeeK ° - + - ° 01110010011011110110111101110100001000000110110101100101 Therell be days/When Ill stray/I may appear to be/Constantly out of reach/I give in to sin/Because I like to practise what I preach

12-29-2004, 03:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
ICER Chilled to Perfection Location: Dallas, TX	whoa, sounds like my kind of place. __________________ What's the difference between congress and a penitentiary? One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. ~~David Letterman

01-18-2005, 09:17 AM	#18 (permalink)
Lunatic Tilted	Wow this place looks so awesome, I would like to go there for a few days, God knows how much fun it can be. By the way does anybody know where is that hotel or motel underwater located? When I saw this it reminded me of it.

01-18-2005, 09:21 AM	#19 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I would love to go to either this one or the one in Quebec (it's a little closer) but my wife made it very clear that she definately doesn't want to go. She hates being cold. She spends a lot of time teaching kids to ride horses... she does this outside or in an unheated but covered practice ring. I got her electricly heated socks for Christmas... __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

01-18-2005, 04:51 PM	#21 (permalink)
Zephyr66 My custom title's the shit! Location: Canada	Im pretty sure it wasn't the one in quebec. I think it was supposed to be in russia or something