In the north of Sweden, 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, is the small village of Jukkasjärvi, which has 1,100 inhabitants, 1,000 dogs and the first and largest ice hotel. This year in its 24th edition.
You probably know the story. Every year in December, Sweden they open one of the coldest, actually icy doors leading to ice hotel. Well, this is not some kind of hotel that would improve over the years, on the contrary, every year we look forward to what it has to offer even more impatiently. It is created by a bunch of artists who make sure that every room and every element inside it is unique. Every year, the hotel attracts over 50,000 visitors, who, in addition to all the natural wonders, are attracted to the arctic circle by sleeping in an ice hotel.
As pointed out in Icehotel this is no ordinary hotel with rooms and beds. Well, there is no need to be afraid of being "ordinary", given that it is made of ice and snow. However, the creators wanted to emphasize that Icehotel is an exhibition inspired by ice and where imagination knows no bounds. The rooms are created by artists who take the project as a fun collaboration and create in an open and dynamic atmosphere. At the time when Icehotel was being created, they say that there was no sense of rivalry or competition. As beautiful as the atmosphere is, the result is just as wonderful, which visitors can admire every winter.
They are made from frozen water from the Torna River, which is one of the few European rivers that has not yet been used for industrial purposes, making it a unique resource. Last year they spent on the hotel 40,000 tons of ice and snow, from which castles, trees, celestial elements, planets, stars, flowers, ice sculptures and snow sculptures were created and we could go on and on. This year, new artists were again invited to participate. Attracted may not be the best choice of word, because every year to create v Icehotel automatically sign up hundreds of artists from around the world. From all the applications received, the jury selects the lucky ones who travel to Jukkasjärvi in Sweden, where the hotel is located, in November.
The jury is not looking for a specific direction and every year they make a selection of artists from all winds, cultures, influences, languages and directions of creation, many of them have never worked with ice or snow before. It is this mix of experienced and inexperienced that is said to be the secret recipe for fresh ideas that are born between the ice blocks in Icehotel.
photo: Big Ben Productions – Ice Hotel
More information at:
www.icehotel.com
