SnowCastle of Kemi: An Annually Rebuilt Snow-and-Ice Structure in Finland
Site at a Glance
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- Finland
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- Modern
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Modern
- Civilizations
- Unclassified
- Site type
- Entertainment
On this page10 sections
History
The SnowCastle of Kemi is an annually rebuilt snow-and-ice structure in Kemi, Finland, first constructed in 1996 after a winter-tourism project was launched by the city’s principal civic organizations. The first SnowCastle attracted approximately 300,000 visitors and established a recurring seasonal complex whose purposes have included accommodation, dining, worship, performance, and art exhibitions.
Origins and changing location
For several years, the SnowCastle was built in Kemi’s harbor. In 2017, the project moved to a new site in a city park. Its plan is redesigned every year, although the chapel, restaurant, and hotel have remained recurring elements. Hotel interiors have also been devoted to characters from animated films in different seasons.
Annual construction and use
Construction begins around December, after snow has settled on the ground, and takes approximately one month. The structure requires a temperature of about -5 °C to be maintained. With the arrival of the first spring sunlight in April, melting begins, and the SnowCastle closes as a result.
Some seasons have added a theater and areas for ice-art exhibitions using lighting and sound effects. Opera singers and dancers have performed within the complex. The SnowCastle has been described as the world’s largest ice hotel or snow-and-ice castle. Alongside Finland’s Lainio Snow Village, another seasonal snow-and-ice attraction, it has also been described as one of the country’s structures rebuilt annually.
Remains
The SnowCastle is a temporary complex made from snow and ice, so its form changes from year to year rather than preserving a permanent architectural plan. Its area has ranged from approximately 13,000 to 20,000 square meters. In some seasons, the towers have exceeded 20 meters in height, the walls have extended beyond 1,000 meters, and the complex has reached three stories.
Principal structures
Chapel
The chapel, also called Lumikappeli, is built from snow and ice and provides between 50 and 100 seats. It has hosted numerous weddings, including ceremonies for couples from Japan and Hong Kong, as well as baptisms. Unlike the rest of the SnowCastle, its architectural design remains unchanged from year to year.
Restaurant
The restaurant, known as Lumiravintola, contains ice tables and seats covered with reindeer hide. Ice sculptures and internationally produced artworks form part of its interior display. The restaurant has a stated capacity of 170 people and serves hot regional food in subzero conditions.
Hotel
The hotel, or Lumihotelli, contains 24 rooms: 20 double rooms, three rooms for five people, and one suite. Local artists decorated the rooms with local materials and decorative elements associated with Lapland and Kemi. The accommodation includes double rooms and a bridal suite, while heating keeps the rooms usable despite the complex’s average temperature of approximately -5 °C.
Performance and ice art
In different years, the complex has included a theater and dedicated exhibition spaces. These areas have presented ice art with light and sound effects, extending the SnowCastle’s physical and cultural functions beyond its chapel, restaurant, and hotel.
2009 dimensions
In 2009, the SnowCastle included snow towers reaching 20 meters and snow walls extending 1,000 meters. These dimensions were described at the time as the tallest snow towers and longest snow walls built to that point.
