<strong>ArcticBath, Sweden's stunning floating hotel: </strong>Sweden has a fantastic new floating hotel in the works, adrift on the Lule River in northern Lapland.
ArcticBath, Sweden's stunning floating hotel: Sweden has a fantastic new floating hotel in the works, adrift on the Lule River in northern Lapland.
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Traditional meets whimsical: </strong>Architect Bertil Harström -- who worked on the project alongside Johan Kauppi -- tells CNN Travel that the quirky design is inspired by Swedish log-shipping traditions.
Traditional meets whimsical: Architect Bertil Harström -- who worked on the project alongside Johan Kauppi -- tells CNN Travel that the quirky design is inspired by Swedish log-shipping traditions.
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Homegrown ethos:</strong> "You don't have to copy things made elsewhere, it's not interesting," says Harström. "I think the interesting things come from your own history and your background. That's the principle I work from."
Homegrown ethos: "You don't have to copy things made elsewhere, it's not interesting," says Harström. "I think the interesting things come from your own history and your background. That's the principle I work from."
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Unplanned design: </strong>Until the mid-20th century, Sweden transported logs along the river, sometimes they would get stuck in the rapids. "But it was a symbol for that era," Harström says, "So I chose to build this idea around the connection to the forest in the north."
Unplanned design: Until the mid-20th century, Sweden transported logs along the river, sometimes they would get stuck in the rapids. "But it was a symbol for that era," Harström says, "So I chose to build this idea around the connection to the forest in the north."
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Internal and external: </strong>The resort is home to six hotel rooms alongside the sauna and baths: "You can say that the building is rather introvert. The focus is on the inside," says Harström. "So if you see it from a distance, you will have some problems to guess what is inside."
Internal and external: The resort is home to six hotel rooms alongside the sauna and baths: "You can say that the building is rather introvert. The focus is on the inside," says Harström. "So if you see it from a distance, you will have some problems to guess what is inside."
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Conceptual structures: </strong>"It's not a traditional façade in architecture," says Harström, who also worked on the nearby TreeHotel. "I think TreeHotel prepared the world for ArcticBath as the next project."
Conceptual structures: "It's not a traditional façade in architecture," says Harström, who also worked on the nearby TreeHotel. "I think TreeHotel prepared the world for ArcticBath as the next project."
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Unconventiona</strong><strong>l </strong><strong>façade</strong><strong>:</strong><strong> </strong>Locals have been very encouraging about the project, especially after the success of TreeHotel: "They are confident now and they rely on that it will be something good for society," says Harström.
Unconventional façade: Locals have been very encouraging about the project, especially after the success of TreeHotel: "They are confident now and they rely on that it will be something good for society," says Harström.
Courtesy Johan Kauppi
<strong>Swedish success: </strong>ArcticBath will be open in 2018. It will function as a year-round hotel, free-floating in the summer and frozen on the Lule River.
Swedish success: ArcticBath will be open in 2018. It will function as a year-round hotel, free-floating in the summer and frozen on the Lule River.
Courtesy Johan Kauppi