In pictures: World's first permanent ice hotel

More than 40 architects and designers came together from nine countries around the world to create 20 suites

At the end of last year, Sweden opened its doors to the world's first permanent ice hotel. Ice Hotel 365 is the only frozen accommodation in the world to remain open all year-round.

More than 40 architects, artists and designers came together from nine countries around the world to create 20 suites where guests can sleep on a bed made of ice at -5C, 365 days a year.

Although the hotel will be covered in snow during winter, it will be kept cool in summer by  solar power from the midnight sun, covered with a turf roof and planted with Arctic flowers. Ice hotel 365 is next to the Ice Hotel (which melts away by spring). Construction of both properties involves the use of around 30,000 litres of water from the river Torne: the equivalent of 700 million snowballs.

An artist's impression of the hotel in winter. PHOTO: PINPIN STUDIO/ICE HOTEL

Entrance of the Ice Art Hall. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Once upon a time – deluxe suite. Design Luc Voisin & Mathieu Brison. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Deluxe Suite 365 – Wishful Thinking. Design Marjolein Vonk & Maurizio Perron. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

The door one of a hotel suites. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

The suite also features a staircase of pure ice that winds from its entrance towards the ‘floating’ frozen bed. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

One of suites in Ice Hotel 365. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Deluxe suite, Don’t Get Lost, by Tommy Alatalo. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Ice chandelier in Main Hall. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Deluxe Suite 365 – Don’t get Lost. Design Tommy Alatalo. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

A suite designed by John Bark and Charli Kasselbäck and inspired by typography. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Dancers in the Dark suite by Tjåsa Gusfors and Patrick Dallard. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Deluxe Suite 365 – Kiss. Design Kestutis & Vytautas Musteikis. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

Dreamscape, has been designed and built by British architects Alex Haw and Aditya Bhatt from Atmos Studio in London. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL

The northern lights are seen over the Swedish Lapland. PHOTO: ASAF KILGER/ICE HOTEL