Whether it’s the ice hotel, a luxury tipi or a thermal glass igloo; there are no shortage of innovative ways to see the Northern Lights. For many, the Aurora Borealis ranks highly on the to-do list, and choosing the right place to stay can be a bit of a chore – especially with so much choice. Unfortunately, as of this week, that decision just got harder.
Designed by Dutch Docklands, experts in floating hotels, the snowflake-shaped Krystall Hotel is set to attract visitors in their droves come 2017, offering Northern Lights hunters yet another wacky hotel concept to consider.
Boasting a glass roof, the 86-room hotel will float between fjords near Tromsø in northern Norway; a destination famed for its proximity to the annual Aurora Borealis phenomena.
According to the architect firm behind the design, the hotel will possess all of the attributes expected of a five star hotel, while promising “scarless development,” meaning the resort can be removed without inflicting any long-term visual damage to its natural environment.
Costs are expected to be almost the same as a luxury land-based hotel, but with an extra 15% budget allocated for the property’s floating foundations.
Construction of the hotel is set to start in mid-2015, with a completion date estimated at 18 months later.