The first climate-neutral hotel ever
In Svartisen National Park, just south of Bodø, a brand-new, energy-positive and climate-neutral hotel is being built. The Svart hotel, named after the area, will open in 2021 and will use about 85% less energy than an average hotel.
Svart is Norwegian for black, but in Old Norse it also means blue. So the name isn’t just a tribute to the nearby Svartisen National Park, it also refers to the deep blue glacier ice of the Svartisen glacier.
Once again the design comes from the drawing board of Snøhetta, the architecture firm that was already in the news last year for their innovative underwater restaurant. In the new design for this hotel, which is already causing just as much of a stir, the focus is once again on nature and on leaving as few traces on it as possible.
Energy-positive design & solar panels
The trick to being energy-positive lies first of all in the design of the building. The round shape has been optimized to generate maximum energy from solar radiation. The roofs are fitted with solar panels and the facades are designed in such a way that air conditioning isn’t needed in summer.
The solar panels that will be used are in turn produced with hydropower, which keeps CO2 emissions to a minimum. On top of that, the hotel is being built above the Arctic Circle, the place on earth where the summer days are almost endless. That way, extra energy can be generated to get through the dark winters.
Support pillars the Norwegian way
The wooden beams the building will rest on are inspired by the so-called ‘fiskehjell’, the racks Norwegians use to dry fish. Thanks to this ingenious solution, the hotel leaves a minimal footprint on the precious nature around it.
Walking along the fjord
Between these beams, a boardwalk is being built that you can walk along and where little boats and kayaks can moor. After all, the nature nearby can only be visited by boat. That’s why there are also plans for an energy-neutral shuttle service between the hotel and Bodø.
Personally, I’m a little skeptical about building a hotel in such a serene and untouched piece of nature, however energy-neutral it may be. But I’ll admit it: it looks gorgeous, and as soon as it opens I’d love to spend a night there chasing the northern lights. Can you already see yourself sleeping here?
You can find more information about the hotel and the location at www.svart.no
