Located atop Sweden’s Lule River, the Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa is frozen into the ice of the waterway during the winter and floats above the water in warmer months. The retreat comprises 12 accommodations spread across six detached cabins with another six on the land. Floating timber is the main inspiration for both the cabins and the spa.
Designed by Annkathrin Lundqvist of the Swedish design firm, Akenberg, each cabin on land features two varying layouts that overlook the river through floor-to-ceiling windows. Lined with pine walls and dark oak floors, their wedge shape draws inspiration from the “Flottningshake,” a tool used by loggers in the timber-floating work. Composed of locally sourced materials and with a minimal impact on the wilderness, the land-based cabins are elevated off the ground with poles, to allow flowers and animals to thrive beneath them. In addition to windows coated to reflect heat during the summer and absorb it in the winter, the cabins are equipped with green electricity that is generated by using the Lule River.
