Ice Hotel

[What is an ice hotel?]

An ice hotel is a unique hotel that is usually built annually in cold countries like Alaska and Finland. The most special part of this structure is that it is totally made from snow and ice! The walls, the cups, the tables, the windows, and even the toilets are made of snow and ice. Discovery Magazine would like to take you to a trip back a year, in which the biggest ice hotel so far would be built.

[Preparing for this “Giga structure”]

In spring, a number of architects begin to gather up to build one of the biggest ice hotels ever attempted: the ice hotel near the village of Jukkasjärvi. The first step to build this “Giga structure” is to draw out almost three thousand tones of ice form the Torne River, which is directly in front of them. The Torne River is one of the most pure rivers, as it is situated in a remote area where there is almost no pollution. Therefore, the ice cut from it is almost as pure as glass or crystal! The reason spring was the best season is because the ice is at the right hardness. In winter, it will too hard, but everything would melt in summer. That is why they chose spring and the timing seems to be right. However, the architects soon find themselves in a problem: although they have tried everything, the ice either cracks every time they cut, or the cutting tool gets clogged in ice and snow. They soon found out a way of solving, in which they invented a special chainsaw with sharper “teeth”, which remove all the clogged ice. Soon, they collected the entire amount they needed, and stored them in some warm warehouses kept at a constant temperature of minus five degrees centigrade. This would be stored until needed in winter.

[Starting the job]

After a few months, the building begins. However, there is an immediate setback: global warming. The temperature must be at least minus five degrees centigrade for the building to start, and the first few days of the building schedule had temperatures of about five degrees Celsius. That meant the building work of the hotel must be delayed. Only after five days could the work begin. This was the latest delay in the history of this hotel. Because of this, the work must speed up, and the hotel must be finished in SIX WEEKS TIME. This was a real challenge for the men.

[The materials, men and the architecture]

The main shape for this hotel is an arch, which is supported by six meter tall pillars. The arches would be joined by water, and two tones would be needed for the whole ice hotel. Many arches bonded closely together would form the corridors, while the walls are made packed “snice” – a mixture of snow and ice. The “snice” is then fired onto casts such as wooden boards by cannons, which is powered by running water. All in all, about a hundred tones of “snice” would be needed for the hotel. Only one cannon can fill a full size swimming pool in under an hour! This gives the team a huge advantage over time. However, they must make arches and walls in a six thousand square meter boundary. However, the hardest bit is the most eye-catching one: the round dome church. This is what makes this hotel so unique, as it was never attempted before. This is because the dome is nine meters in diameter, and that the balloon used to mould it could easily blow away in the wind.

However, even with all the instruments, a crew is a must for building this “Giga Structure”. The workers come from all over the world. There are sculptors, designers, builders, architects, etc. With this amazing workforce who is bristling with talents, the ice hotel seems really easy. Still, there is an enemy which no one could stop: Mother Nature. And she is about to strike in Sweden……

[Strike by nature]

So far, the ice hotel seems to be going really smoothly. The main hall soon forms on the 23^rd of November. Then, it is time for the outer corridors. Many of them are built smoothly. First, the arches of “snice” are built and joined together. Then, metal supporters are used as a mould to support the wall as the “snice” hardens. Then, the casts are removed. This is the most dangerous part of the process, as one false move could send the whole section collapsing. The weather could greatly change the odds too, and the weather was not on the builder’s side.

Then, on a dark night, a section collapses. This is the worst nightmare of the crew, as this meant adding work hours to get in line with the time schedule. Soon, the engineers found out that the temperature at that time was about seven degrees Celsius! No wonder the “snice” had not held. Soon, the crew put the section back in place, and because of advantages in numbers, the work continues.

[The final steps]

Soon, most of the building was done, and on the 11^th of December, the last corridor was finished. Then, the attention turned to the masterpiece of this year’s ice hotel: the round chapel. The chapel was supported by “Y” shaped wooden beams and pillars made of the pure ice dug out in spring. After a couple of weeks, everything was done, and the designers and sculptors moved in.

[Sharpening the saw]

After the hard work of building the structure, it is time to decorate it. Sculptors begin to carve beautiful statues which are embedded with LEDs and fiber optics. This gives the statues some light and color and heat. These are the main decorations of this hotel. Designers decide where to put the statues and the towers to support the halls. They are made from the spare blocks of clear ice from the Torne River. Meanwhile, workers use flat pieces of wood with nails to smooth the walls until they are flat. This kind of job is actually a hi-rank one! On Christmas day, everything in ready and the hotel opens.

Even when this “Giga structure” is completed, there is still some work to be done. Cleaning workers smooth the walls form time to time and clear up the rubbish. Another job they do is to clean the “snice” as it will turn gray if it is put too long. They use shovels to remove the gray bits and add some new white “snice” as a substitute. This way, the hotel would be kept clean and sparkling in its three months of opening time.

The ice hotel is really one of the most unique structure every built by man. Every one has its own specialty. However, global warming is threatening this special structure of man. Therefore, we should help the environment and preserve this amazing structure for the next generation.