Sweden’s Newly Opened Floating Hotel Is the Destination of a Lifetime

ByMyProperty Life

Arctic Bath plunges visitors into the remote wilderness of Sweden’s Lapland region.

Those who pounced on Arctic Bath reservations back in July are now packing their bags with snow boots and swimwear. In Sweden’s frigid Lule River floats Arctic Bath, a luxe wellness destination offering a menu of spa treatments, a traditional cold plunge, daytime excursions, a restaurant serving locally-sourced, regional fare, and on-site accommodations.

Six rentable cabins float at the end of wooden docks, while six more perch above the snow on stilts—and all feature sleek, Scandinavian design by architect AnnKathrin Lundqvist. Guests can wake up to heated floors, peer out of floor-to-ceiling windows (in the land cabins), and sip hot beverages from floating suites while gazing upon the Lule River. The interiors are outfitted with sustainable materials including wood, stone, and luxury textiles.

An overhead shot of Arctic Bath shows the lay of the land—and how cold it can get.
Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

An overhead shot of Arctic Bath shows the lay of the land—and how cold it can get.

Photo by Anders Blomqvist

Logs splayed around the structure’s facade emulate a log jam—a reference to Harads’ logging industry from days of yore. During the summer, the bath floats freely in the Lule River and it’s anchored to shore by a wooden dock. In the winter, the frozen river does the trick.

Logs splayed around the structure’s facade emulate a log jam—a reference to Harads’ logging industry from days of yore. During the summer, the bath floats freely in the Lule River and it’s anchored to shore by a wooden dock. In the winter,  the frozen river does the trick.

Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

Photo by Anders Blomqvist

At the center of the rotunda is an ice bath where guests can take a frosty plunge—a traditional activity in Sweden. Temperatures are regulated at 39 degrees Fahrenheit year round.

At the center of the rotunda is an ice bath where guests can take a frosty plunge—a traditional activity in Sweden. Temperatures are regulated at 39 degrees Fahrenheit year round. 

Photo by Anders Blomqvist

Read another article:Revamped Small Barcelona Apartment Combines Multiple Styles and Finishes

See the full story on Dwell.com: Sweden’s Newly Opened Floating Hotel Is the Destination of a Lifetime

Similar Posts

  • PDC House

    The design strategy of this house is based on a commitment to artisanal constructive honesty, the respect towards natural context in an urban area, and the constant search for a way of inhabiting where material austerity provides spatial quality. The main body of the house is located in the southern boundary of the land, respecting the 3 preexisting fruit trees on the north side and taking advantage of the best ventilation and natural light possible. The program, which includes 2 bedrooms, social area, a family room and services, is condensed in a monolithic block to reduce its footprint. As a main strategy, the upper roof tilts 21 degrees, prioritizing the northern bedroom spaces and reducing the southern service spaces. The subtraction and rotation of a middle segment generates a shift in between the upper floor bedrooms, allowing cross ventilation, as well as the accommodation of rooftop equipment and the plumbing and electrical ducting. In section, the composition allows the circulation of north-south winds, cooling the kitchen by the hot air escape achieved through height differences. The constructive solution contemplates material honesty in all the elements. The concrete walls on ground floor, pured with recycled formwork, give an imperfect finish consistent with the roof’s austerity, but contrasted with the cleanliness and volumetric continuity of the upper floor finish. To reduce economic impact, ceiling and floor finishings and tilings were completely eliminated using bare concrete floors and, in order to express the constructive and structural performance, the roofs use a system of bare concrete joists in combination with vaulted pieces, designed and manufactured using a mold made with local artisan blacksmithing.