The design of a hotel in the village of Björkliden , located in the far north of Sweden, is a proposal by Kamil Federyga of the Cracow University of Technology. The author, fascinated by Scandinavia, created a building resistant to harsh weather conditions, while combining the lightness of traditional Swedish construction. An additional attraction is the view of the glacial lake Torneträsk.
The Björkliden Hotel project was completed as an engineering thesis under the direction of Piotr Winskowski, PhD. The diploma was defended with distinction.
The author referred to traditional red Swedish houses
© Kamil Federyga
far north of Sweden
A distinguishing feature of the subpolar climate is the contrast. The occurrence of extremely low temperatures, frequent and intense snowfalls, strong wind gusts and the phenomenon of polar nights, i.e. days when the sun does not appear above the horizon for 24 hours a day, stands in opposition to relatively warm summers and white nights or polar days, in which darkness does not fall at all during the day. The architecture of the designed hotel, located in the tourist village of Björkliden in the inaccessible north of Sweden, as Erskine wrote - "the periphery of everything that goes on in the world" [Erskine 1961:161], had to deal with difficult climatic factors by design, Kamil Federyga explains.
Among such design challenges, the author counted: the problem of the building's foundation in a zone where the ground frost level reaches several meters, heavy snowfall, resulting in the building being buried and snow deposited on the roof slopes, strong wind blows amplified by building walls generating drafts, low sunlight, or none at all. In addition to the difficult climatic conditions, low availability of materials, labor, long distances and insulation were also important.
The hotel was designed along the route of the ideal tourist route of the four elements of the North
© Kamil Federyga
hotel on the tourist route of the four elements of the North
The designed hotel has been positioned in such a way that its windows overlook the glacial lake Torneträsk. The building has also been integrated into the idea tourist trail of the four elements of the North. The designer combined the building with a descent to the lake, which symbolizes the element of water, and an observation point by the Rákkasjohka stream, where visitors can listen to the sound of flowing water and breezes of the polar wind - the element of air. The hotel is also located close to the ski lift (an element of the earth covered almost year-round with snow) and the observation point for the aurora borealis, the fire of the North, located at the top of a nearby hill. Meanwhile, an ice rink and an outdoor swimming pool area are designed on the plot to complement the hotel's spa area.
An ice rink and outdoor pool are located next to the hotel
© Kamil Federyga
how to cope with a difficult climate?
The concept for the body of the hotel, which was to respond to the demanding conditions of the local climate and at the same time offer a wide range of accommodation and recreation, was to oppose in its form the elements of heaviness and lightness, says the author.
The first floor of the building is a solid reinforced concrete base
© Kamil Federyga
The architect shaped the firstfloor as a solid reinforced concrete base, partially sunk into the slope. The massive foundation slab is the foundation for the entire premise - it embeds the building in the hostile terrain, and its spurs descending to the level of -2.60 m not only counteract the pressure forces of the slope, but are also a response to the deep ground frost zones that apply in the area.
Thefront elevation breaks the monolith of the building's concrete wall thanks to numerous glazings. Large windows let the low rays of the Arctic sun into the reception hall and restaurant room. Two interior courtyards with vegetation provide additional light to the first floor and give the impression of interpenetration between the interior and exterior.
cross-section of the building
© Kamil Federyga
reference to the cultural context of the site
Thefloors have taken on a lighter character for contrast. On the reinforced concrete podium of the first floor, the author casually placed five blocks of wooden houses with pitched steep roofs and steel structure. Four of the buildings were set in pairs and connected by glass connectors. An additional sixth house is a gabled glass canopy for the pool area with a slope angle equal to the roof angles of the individual buildings.
The floor is formed by five blocks of wooden houses
© Kamil Federyga
The light steel skeleton of the houses alludes to the mining tradition of the Kiruna municipality, where the proposed hotel is located, and is a result of the easy availability of the material. Meanwhile, the free layout of the blocks prevents drafts. The houses, in the colors of Falun red and black, refer to the archetype of the Swedish red house, while also fitting into the cultural context of the place, Kamil adds.
The author also took into account environmentally friendly solutions. He placed photovoltaic panels on the facades of the southern blocks of the houses, and a heat recovery system above the pool area. Rainwater collected in an underground tank located on the plot can be used for flushing toilets or watering plants in the summer.
The buildings have been constructed in a steel concourse
© Kamil Federyga
terrace overlooking the glacial lake
The hotel is located in the picturesque surroundings of the valley and Lake Torneträsk, so a viewing terrace became an important design element. To ensure that the wall of the attic does not interfere with the views, the terrace, located on the first floor ceiling, was lowered to form a grandstand. In addition, the attic, as well as the wall around the courtyards, was interrupted at strategic locations - the view axes- and replaced with a balustrade with an infill of translucent expanded metal. In response to the problem of snow accumulation, a series of low concrete walls were designed. The terrace is also an important transportation hub, connected to paths leading to the ski slopes.
observation terrace
© Kamil Federyga
The entire premise is intended to complement the broad recreational and sports program of the entire village of Björkliden and become an ideal vacation destination not only for ski enthusiasts, concludes Kamil Federyga.
Also read about the motel project in Scotland, by Dominika Cieplak.
