first images of sweden's 29th ICEHOTEL are revealed

the first images of the 29th annual ICEHOTEL have been revealed, featuring suites sculpted out of ice and snow from the free-flowing arctic river torne. ICEHOTEL is the first and largest hotel built of snow and ice and is reborn in a new guise every winter.

opened on december 14, 2018 along the riverbank in jukkasjärvi, sweden, the 29th edition of the hotel comprises 15 uniquely designed suites, one ice ceremony hall for weddings and ceremonies and the main hall. everything, including the artwork, can only be experienced during the winter before it all melts away and trickles back to the nearby torne river — a perfect cycle.

ICEHOTEL main hall | design marjolein vonk and maurizio perron
image © asaf kliger, courtesy of ICEHOTEL (also main image)

the annual building of the hotel begins in march when 2,500 tons of ice is harvested from the adjacent torne river. the ice is then stored until ICEHOTEL’s construction in october. 33 artists from 13 different countries arrive in jukkasjärvi to sculpt the 15 unique suites of ice and snow, as well as the ceremony and main halls which feature the columns and chandeliers for which the hotel is famous. a building team, the ice production, art support and lighting designers work together with the artists in the building of icehotel, and create an additional 20 ice rooms.

‘haven’ art suite | design by jonas johansson, jordi claramunt, and lukas petko
image © asaf kliger, courtesy of ICEHOTEL

upon arrival, an ICEHOTEL guide holds a ‘survival course’ for guests staying the night in the hotel. the introduction includes information on dressing appropriately and making the bed with the arctic sleeping bags. these sleeping bags are more than sufficient as they are intended for temperatures as low as -13° farenh (-25° celsius).

‘the living ocean’ art suite | design by jonathan paul green and marnie green
image © asaf kliger, courtesy of ICEHOTEL