Glass Resort In Rovaniemi, Lapland By VOID Architecture

Glass Resort In Rovaniemi, Lapland By VOID Architecture



VOID Architecture completed a winter holiday resort made of contemporary and distinctive wooden houses in Rovaniemi, Lapland. Large glazed surfaces and spacious interiors let the guests experience comfort and amazement.

Glass resort 1

Glass resort 1

Glass resort 2

Glass resort 2

Glass resort 3

Glass resort 3

The aspiration to create a group of buildings that could re-imagine holiday accommodation in Lapland guided this project from the beginning. The starting point was to conceive apartments where comfort, generosity of space, and compelling views towards the surrounding forest and sky would be central themes of the design.

Glass resort 5

Glass resort 5

Glass resort 6

Glass resort 6

Glass resort 7

Glass resort 7

The architects found a solution in a contemporary design with inspiration from a traditional local theme. The resort consists of accommodation units on two levels. The design emphasizes the importance of the connection to the surrounding landscape with large glazed surfaces and, most strikingly, opens the opportunity of spotting starry skies and northern lights from a comfortable and warm setting. To allow the views even in snowy conditions, the architects made the glass surfaces heated.

Glass resort 9

Glass resort 9

Glass resort 10

Glass resort 10

Each house contains two accommodation units of 40 sqm. Facilities include a double-height living area, balcony floor with a glass roof, kitchen, personal sauna, and an outdoor hot tub terrace. The space of the apartments develops vertically along a fully glazed facade and towards the ceiling, made entirely of glass. This effect creates a fully immersive atmosphere, stretching out the double-height interior space towards the landscape and the sky above.

Glass resort 11

Glass resort 11

Glass resort 12

Glass resort 12

Glass resort 13

Glass resort 13

Glass resort 14

Glass resort 14

Glass resort 15

Glass resort 15

Architects designed each building with a bold character and built with a timber frame structure and made them immediately recognizable for the clean lines of its volumes. Overall, the combination of engineered laminated wood and triple glazing constitutes the fabric of the buildings.

Glass resort 17

Glass resort 17

Glass resort 19

Glass resort 19

Glass resort 20

Glass resort 20

Glass resort 16

Glass resort 16

The main building of the resort develops this formal theme further, with the combination of two simple interlocking volumes lying on each other. The main block hosts a full height restaurant lounge with a fully glazed facade and panoramic balcony. The second block, characterized by a long and slanted front elevation, includes reception, offices and further technical facilities.

Glass resort 22

Glass resort 22

Glass resort 23

Glass resort 23

Glass resort 24

Glass resort 24

Glass resort 25

Glass resort 25

Glass resort 26

Glass resort 26

Project developers: Finnish-Italian architecture office VOID Architecture and Finnish timber house manufacturer Honkatalot/PolarlifeHaus.

Photography by Timo Laaksonen