Arctic Bath: a floating spa hotel in Swedish Lapland
In Swedish Lapland, near the small town of Harads, lies Arctic Bath – a floating spa hotel defined by silence, remoteness and the stark beauty of the Arctic landscape. The experience combines extreme northern conditions with a carefully designed boutique hotel and an acclaimed restaurant.
Arctic Bath offers a total of twelve hotel rooms. Six of them float on the river as individual cabins, each accessed via its own footbridge. The remaining six cabins are located on solid ground and offer more spacious interiors. Large glass walls frame uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. The buildings were designed by architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi, with a strong emphasis on the use of local materials.
The round main building, housing the reception, spa and restaurant, is inspired by the region’s log driving history. Floating on the Lule River, its circular form sits naturally within the surrounding environment. From here, guests can admire the midnight sun during the light-filled summer nights or take a bracing dip into a hole in the ice during the brisk winter days.
The circular main building offers an unexpected architectural presence, yet materiality allows it to sit comfortably within the surrounding landscape. Photo by Emil Wallin.
Sustainability rooted in place
Arctic Bath’s approach to sustainability is grounded in environmental, social and economic principles and recognised with Nature’s Best certification, Sweden’s leading nature-tourism quality label. Built with local, natural materials and designed to leave a small ecological footprint, the hotel actively encourages guests to engage respectfully with the region’s wilderness and cultural heritage. Many of the local guides, suppliers and experiences are sourced from the surrounding community, reinforcing a commitment to responsible tourism.
The interiors are designed to support comfort and wellbeing, combining a sense of luxury with restraint. Interior designer AnnKathrin Lundqvist selected materials with care, guided by sustainability and longevity. Natural materials such as wood, stone and leather, complemented by high-quality textiles, allow the interiors to blend seamlessly with the landscape beyond the glass walls.
At Arctic Bath, soft winter light meets the warm, diffused glow of Secto Design lamps. Photos by Anders Blomqvist and Arctic Bath.
Each room has been thoughtfully designed using sustainable materials. Photo by Anders Blomqvist.
Secto Design lighting at Arctic Bath
Lighting plays a key role in shaping the atmosphere of the cabins, particularly in a landscape defined by strong seasonal contrasts. Secto Design lamps introduce a sense of warmth and visual calm, complementing the natural materials used throughout the interiors. Their softly diffused light supports the overall aim of comfort and wellbeing, while remaining understated and functional.
From the riverbank, the glass-walled cabins reflect the surrounding nature, while the gentle glow of the Secto Design lamps is visible from within, subtly marking the presence of human life in the vast Arctic landscape. The lighting becomes part of the architectural experience, connecting interior and exterior rather than competing with it.
Interior designer AnnKathrin Lundqvist comments on the lighting selection: “We are very excited about the Secto Design lighting in this project — it fits perfectly with the overall concept.”
Secto floor lamps lamps are visible through the glass walls, softly illuminating the cabins from within. Photo by Anders Blomqvist.
