Energy-positive hotel to be built in Norway

The futuristic hotel will be the first to be built after the energy positive “Powerhouse” standard in a Northern climate, producing more energy than it uses

Spotted: The new hotel, “Svart”, (named after the Svartisen glacier) will be the first hotel to be built after the energy positive “Powerhouse” standard in a Northern climate, producing more energy than it uses. Moreover, it will have a demand for energy that is 85 per cent lower compared to a typical modern hotel. 

Designed by the leading Norwegian sustainable design studio Snøhetta, Svart will be built at the foot of the Svartisen glacier in the unspoiled municipality of Meløy in northern Norway. The hotel was commissioned by Arctic Adventures of Norway, a company operating in the eco-sustainable and naturalistic tourism sector, and plans to be completed by 2023. 

Design practice Snøhetta began as a collaborative architectural and landscape workshop. With multiple designers and professionals working together, it has remained true to its trans-disciplinary way of thinking. “Creating an energy-positive hotel, which has a corresponding low-impact operation, has been absolutely crucial to developing a tourist attraction with a focus on sustainability and respect for the area’s rare plant species,” says founding partner of Snøhetta, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen.

The hotel will stand on a stilt construction built with weather-resistant wooden poles that extend several metres below the surface of the fjord. Thanks to its many large windows, the circular-shaped hotel will offer panoramic views of the fjord, providing direct contact with nature. The ring-like shape is inspired by the local architecture of the “fiskehjell” (a wooden structure used to dry fish) and the “rorbue” (a traditional type of seasonal house used by fishermen). 

Given that the hotel will only be accessible by boat, there are also plans to introduce a boat shuttle service powered by renewable energy to connect with the city of Bodø.

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