Situated on the edge of a glacier above the arctic circle, the Svart Powerhouse Hotel is a circular shaped structure, a highly engineered yet minimal hotel, with a gorgeous backdrop. Built on poles to minimize it’s impact on the land, the Snøhetta-designed hotel was inspired by traditional local fishing heritage, but full of 21st century energy-saving technology. This northern Norway hotel will feature 360-degree views of the Holandsfjorden Fjord, and will surely draw interest to this fast-changing part of the world. Climate change is occurring fast at the arctic circle, it’s nice to see sensitive architecture come into play in this fragile part of the world. Via Uncrate: 

In collaboration with Arctic Adventures of Norway, Asplan Viak and Skanska, Snøhetta has designed “Svart” the world’s first Powerhouse hotel, at the foot of the Svartisen glacier that runs through Meløy municipality in northern Norway. The hotel is situated just above the Arctic Circle.

“Svart” is the first building to be built after the energy positive Powerhouse standard in a Northern climate. Not only does this new hotel reduces its yearly energy consumption by approximately 85% compared to a modern hotel, but it also produces its own energy – an absolute “must” in this precious arctic environment. The hotel will also become the world’s northernmost Powerhouse building.

Powerhouse is a collaboration between Snøhetta, Entra, Skanska, the ZERO Emission Resource Organization and Asplan Viak. The term “Powerhouse” is used to describe so-called “plus house” buildings built by the Powerhouse collaboration. “Plus houses” are energy producing buildings that, in the course of a 60 year period, will generate more renewable energy than the total amount of energy that would be required to sustain daily operations and to build, produce materials and demolish the building.