This circular hotel in Norway offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Northern Lights

Situated in a Fjord amidst glaciers on all sides, the Svart hotel breaks ground in design and—admirably, sustainability

The Halondsfjorden Fjord in the northern Saltan region is known predominantly for bridging Svartisen (the most-visited glacier in Norway) to avid Arctic travellers and ice climbers who brave the glacial colds for a view of the stunning Northern Lights. Soon, it will become popular for a sheltered high-design hotel—Svart—that will offer 360 degree views of this Arctic patch.

The design model of the Svart hotel has local influences; the entire structure will be built on wooden stilts that will lift the building out of water, derived from ‘Fiskehjell’, a material used by fishermen to lift their traditional Norwegian Rorbue houses above the water. The name ‘Svart’ itself was taken from the adjoining Svartisen glacier. The Svart hotel’s model also ascertains that it will consume 85% less energy than other hotels, keeping sustainability at the forefront of its design synthesis.

For instance, the shape of the building has been conceived relative to the sun’s position to the space—its ring-shaped design ensures the solar panels would provide optimum levels of light through different times and seasons. Secondly, the rooms have huge windows to retain the sun’s thermal energy in this cold part of the world. A boardwalk that doubles up as a space to hold boats as per the seasons steers clear of additional storage facilities that could potentially harm this pristine landscape.

Powerhouse—Snøhetta, construction group Skanksa, tourist company Arctic Adventure of Norway, and consultants Asplan Vaak—is a collaborative group that believes in building energy-producing buildings. The Svart hotel is a “plus-house” says the group, for it will go on to produce energy enough to build, run and even demolish the house.

Source : https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/svart-hotel-norway-offers-360-degree-panoramic-views-northern-lights/#s-cust2