Building a hotel next to a glacier seems a bit … tactless, at this particular point in human history. Because if it’s anything like this, that glacier is going the way of Frosty in a greenhouse.
Thankfully, Svart, a new retreat in the shadow of Norway’s most visited (and second largest) glacier, Svartisen, is determined to honor and sustain its stunning location in the nation’s far Arctic reaches. The project, slated for a 2021 grand opening, features a massive ringed, 360-panoramic dwelling anchored in the lake on criss-crossed timber stilts. Viewed from the sky, it sort of resembles an alien starcraft.
A joint effort between the architects at renowned Oslo design firm Snøhetta, tourist group Arctic Adventures of Norway and contractors Asplan Viak and Skanska, Svart presents a legitimate course correction for how we ought to visit a popular natural destination. The hotel can only be reached by boat (seriously, try entering driving directions in Google Maps), will consume 85% less energy over the next 60 years, and eventually will generate more energy than it consumes, thanks to its utilization of renewable resources.
The interior of Svart’s ring features a boardwalk for summer strolling, while nearby paths, trails and water offer just the tip of the iceberg (deal with it) for biking, hiking, boating and Northern Lights expeditions.
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