From an igloo to the size of a footfall field – In pictures – 25 years of Sweden’s stylish & chic Icehotel

This week, we are jetting up north to Sweden’s IceHotel to celebrate their silver jubilee. Many of you may not be knowing this, but the IceHotel conceptualized the first ever ice chapel back in the day. Adding to the plethora of unique designs and concepts, the IceHotel had once developed an ice sculpture for Sahara, a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and a customised ice piano for renowned Swedish pianist, Robert Wells. In addition to this, Chanel’s runaway ramp once featured a forty-meter iceberg sculpted by the hotel. For those of you who weren’t around for that period in time, the IceHotel has captured these historic creations in their online gallery, featuring images from the early 1990’s to present day.

The throwback-themed online gallery will feature treasured images of art suites inspired by Tom Russian’s art noveau and Frankenstein’s science lab.

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2012 - Its Alive by Christian Strömqvist, Karl-Johan Ekeroth - Photo Christopher HauserEver wondered what would happen to an ice hotel during the months of spring? Well, the entrepreneurs have mastered the solution to this ever-lasting problem by recreating an iconic hotel every winter!

Although today the distinctive hotel covers an impressive area of a professional soccer field, the hotel was initiated with a humble igloo spanning over a mere 45 square meters. If you happen to visit the hotel, you may be astonished to find sixty ice rooms, an innovative ice bar, a beautiful ice church and an elegant main hall featuring solid ice columns and iconic chandeliers.

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2006 - Russian Art Noveau by Rashid Sagadeev, Leonid Kopeykin - Photo by Big Ben ProductionsArne Berg, Creative Director of the IceHotel mentions how they had pondered over the thoughts of creating a “best-of” depiction of the hotel’s journey, but they were determined to fabricate an entirely new idea, sticking to their original mantra of always adopting an original design.

To further these celebrations, the hotel has constructed a brand-new event hall, bar area and a workshop allowing guests to participate in ice-sculpting classes. The Aurora Theatre Hall has been conceptualized by casting ice on to a glass balloon.

2012 - Blue Marine by Andrew Winch, William Blomstrand - Photo Paulina HolmgrenPreview the quintessential collection online on October 1st.

Early days, pre-hotel, the structure was an art gallery (Early 1990s )
Early days, pre-hotel, the structure was an art gallery (Early 1990s )
One of the very first ice bars (early 1990s)
One of the very first ice bars (early 1990s)
ICEHOTEL igloos (early 1990s)
ICEHOTEL igloos (early 1990s)
ICEHOTEL mid-1990s
ICEHOTEL mid-1990s
ICEHOTEL Main Hall 1996
ICEHOTEL Main Hall 1996
One of the very first ice chapels at ICEHOTEL (late 1990s)
One of the very first ice chapels at ICEHOTEL (late 1990s)
Local Sami entrepreneur Nils Nutti with the Queen of Sweden, late 1990s
Local Sami entrepreneur Nils Nutti with the Queen of Sweden, late 1990s
Art Suite in ICEHOTEL early 2000
Art Suite in ICEHOTEL early 2000
Ice Grand Piano - Early 2000s
Ice Grand Piano – Early 2000s
Absolut ICEBAR Sahara melting away, 2001
Absolut ICEBAR Sahara melting away, 2001
Absolut ICEBAR Sahara, 2001
Absolut ICEBAR Sahara, 2001
Bamboo Art Suite, 2002
Bamboo Art Suite, 2002
The Shakespeare Globe Theatre, 2002  Photo: Peter Grant
The Shakespeare Globe Theatre, 2002
Photo: Peter Grant
Shakespeare’s Hamlet performed in Sápmi, the Globe Theatre, 2003  Photo: Peter Grant
Shakespeare’s Hamlet performed in Sápmi, the Globe Theatre, 2003
Photo: Peter Grant
Roman Art Suite, 2003 Photo: Peter Grant
Roman Art Suite, 2003
Photo: Peter Grant
Art suite "CHange of State" by Daniel Rosenbaum & Dylan Pillemer, 2005 Photo: Hakan Hjort
Art suite “CHange of State” by Daniel Rosenbaum & Dylan Pillemer, 2005
Photo: Hakan Hjort
Art Suite "Russian Art Noveau" by Rashid Sagadeev, Leonid Kopeykin, 2006 - Photo by Big Ben Productions
Art Suite “Russian Art Noveau” by Rashid Sagadeev, Leonid Kopeykin, 2006
Photo by Big Ben Productions
Art Suite "Snow Aurora Borealis"  by Kestutis Musteikis, Vytautas Musteikis, 2007  Photo: BigBen Productions
Art Suite “Snow Aurora Borealis” by Kestutis Musteikis & Vytautas Musteikis, 2007
Photo: BigBen Productions
Art Suite "Mush-Room" by Liliya Pobornikova & Victor Tsarski, 2008 Photo: BigBen Productions
Art Suite “Mush-Room” by Liliya Pobornikova & Victor Tsarski, 2008
Photo: BigBen Productions
"Main Hall" by Arne Bergh, Anders Eriksson, 2009 Photo:  BigBen Productions
“Main Hall” by Arne Bergh, Anders Eriksson, 2009
Photo: BigBen Productions
Authentic ice & snow iceburg for Chanel A/W fashion show,2010  Photo: Jan Jordan
Authentic ice & snow iceburg for Chanel A/W fashion show,2010
Photo: Jan Jordan
"In Indialand" by Sofi Routsalainen, Lena Kriström, Mikael Nilsson, 2010 Photo: BigBen Productions
“In Indialand” by Sofi Routsalainen, Lena Kriström, Mikael Nilsson, 2010
Photo: BigBen Productions
Legacy of the River by Ben Rosseau, Ian Douglas-Jones, 2011 Photo: Christopher Hauser
Legacy of the River by Ben Rosseau, Ian Douglas-Jones, 2011
Photo: Christopher Hauser
Art Suite "Krakens Lair" by Karl-Johan Ekeroth & Christian Stromqvist, 2011 Photo: Christopher Hauser
Art Suite “Krakens Lair” by Karl-Johan Ekeroth & Christian Stromqvist, 2011
Photo: Christopher Hauser
Art Suite  Dragon Residence by Bazarsad Bayarsaikhan, 2012 Photo: Christopher Hauser
Art Suite Dragon Residence by Bazarsad Bayarsaikhan, 2012
Photo: Christopher Hauser
Art Suite Blue Marine by Andrew Winch, William Blomstrand, 2012 Photo: Paulina Holmgren
Art Suite Blue Marine by Andrew Winch, William Blomstrand, 2012
Photo: Paulina Holmgren
Ski-in, Ski-out photo exhibition "ICEHOTEL - A Warm Story About a Cold Place" by Anna Ohlund and John Pettersoon, 2012
Ski-in, Ski-out photo exhibition “ICEHOTEL – A Warm Story About a Cold Place” by Anna Ohlund and John Pettersoon, 2012
Photo: Anna Ohlund
Art Suite "Its Alive" by Christian Strömqvist, Karl-Johan Ekeroth, 2012 Photo: Christopher Hauser
Art Suite “Its Alive” by Christian Strömqvist, Karl-Johan Ekeroth, 2012
Photo: Christopher Hauser
ICEHOTEL by  ICEBAR Jukkasjarvi "Lost & Found" by jens Thoms Ivarsson, Tjasa Gusfors & Maurizio Perron, 2013 Photo: Christopher Hauser
ICEHOTEL by ICEBAR Jukkasjarvi “Lost & Found” by jens Thoms Ivarsson, Tjasa Gusfors & Maurizio Perron, 2013
Photo: Christopher Hauser
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