Six Senses is heading to northern Norway with its first energy-positive project. Borrowing its name from the local Svartisen glacier, Six Senses Svart aims to inspire guests through the regenerative power of nature while also promoting the importance of the polar region. As such, protection and balance are inherent in the design, wedding cutting-edge design and innovative technologies to preserve the delicate ecosystem and guide guests on their wellness journeys.
Commenting on the brand’s first project in Scandinavia, CEO of Six Senses Neil Jacobs said, “Sustainable properties call for extraordinary creativity, and Six Senses Svart takes us to a whole new level in terms of pushing boundaries. The concept has become bigger than the project itself, as it will provide a futuristic showcase for what can be achieved in terms of sustainability and energy solutions, and therefore a blueprint within our hospitality industry and the development sector in general.”
Delicate Design Choices Combine with Off-Grid Sufficiency
Molded into a circular structure reminiscent of the cabins and fish huts of the Nordic coastlines, the 94-room building hovers over the Holandsfjorden fjord, using stilts to minimize its impact. This unique silhouette opens the building to the surrounding landscape, giving it a seemingly transparent appearance while granting broad, panoramic views to guests.
The shape of the building will also allow it to harvest solar energy more effectively, rendering the facility energy positive in terms of consumption. Having been modeled after the highest efficiency standards within the northern hemisphere, the system will be able to power the hotel, adjacent operations, boat shuttles and even onsite construction.
Inside, materials and accents bring nature closer to guests and provide emotional engagement through ‘fun and quirky’ design. The use of light and raw materials pull from the local supply language as hallways open to sustainable Scandic designs from local craftsmen, artwork, artifacts and landscape follies that chart regional heritage.
Each room will also play host to the ‘Svart Touch’ concept, which will use non-invasive, touchless technology, that will allow rooms to adapt to a guest’s state of mind and health, providing intuitive options to evoke a deeper sense of wellbeing.
