Snøhetta has revealed its design for Svart, the world’s first energy positive hotel concept in the Arctic Circle. Developed in collaboration with Arctic Adventures of Norway,  architects Asplan Viak and construction firm Skanska, the circular-bodied hotel will sit at the foot of Svartisen, a 370km² glacier running through Meløy, Norway. Designed to leave minimal footprint on the landscape, the architecture is inspired by fiskehjells – a wooden structure for drying fish – and the vernacular of rorbue, traditional seasonal homes for fishermen.

The hotel will be built to Powerhouse standard, meaning it functions to both reduce the use of energy whilst generating its own, and is set to open as the northernmost building of this type in the world. Reducing yearly energy consumption by approximately 85% compared to modern building standards in Norway, Svart’s roof is clad with solar panels to optimise the harvest of solar rays, and positioned so that guestrooms and restaurants enjoy the sun all year round.

Secluded terraces create a shaded façade to ensure privacy and isolation from the high summer sun, whilst large windows offer panoramic views and natural light in the shorter winter days. Built atop weather-resistant wooden poles below the fjord’s surface, the foundation doubles as a boardwalk for visitors whilst geothermal wells connected to heat pumps will be used to warm the hotel.

Accessible only by boat, Svart will surround guests with untouched natural features including the glacier’s blue ice, a host of rare plant species and the clear waters of Holandsfjorden. Plans are also in place for an energy neutral boat shuttle from the city of Bodø.

www.snohetta.com