Welcome to Arctic Bath, a "floating hotel" in the Scandinavian north.
In the middle of this floating edifice is a giant ice bath, open to the elements and offering a pretty spectacular spa experience for guests who brave the cold. The rest of the building is comprised of various saunas and bathing experiences.
The hotel's 12 rooms are dotted around the river banks and on the water's edge, Scandi-chic cabins offering eye catching views of the ever-changing skies and cozy, minimalistic interiors.
This new accommodation spot, designed by architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi, suggests a constant dialogue between nature and the man made structure.
Designs for Arctic Bath premiered back in early 2018, with its striking architecture and watery theme capturing the imagination of travelers across the world.
CEO Peter Engström tells CNN Travel that taking the hotel from design to reality wasn't always easy -- in fact, he thinks if the team knew about the technical challenges in advance, it might have put them off altogether.
The decision to locate some of the rooms on land was decided fairly late in the process. While building on land is easier than on water, Engström said it provided its own challenges -- namely, to ensure the cabin's elevation didn't impact passage of fresh water and electricity.
The cabins were built above ground to avoid impact on the environment as sustainability is, Engström says, a "cornerstone" of the hotel's ethos.
Now Arctic Bath -- located about an hour and 15 minutes from Luleå Airport -- is open for business, and also offers first-rate culinary offerings at the hotel restaurant.
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