A new Six Senses resort in Norway will be carbon neutral, self-sustainable and really beautiful
The beauty of northern Norway is unmatched thanks to its rugged fjords and imposing glaciers. And soon, it will be home to a highly anticipated hotel that will be the first "net energy-positive destination in the world."
Even better? It's been revealed that the project will be joining the Six Senses family.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Looking not unlike a futuristic spaceship, the Six Senses Svart, set to open in 2024, is located within the Arctic Circle on the Helgeland coastline near Lofoten and Bodø in Norway's Meløy municipality. In the old Norse language, Svart, according to Six Senses, means black and blue, and "is a reference to the natural heritage of the ancient Svartisen glacier."
The hotel itself is being built on poles at the base of the glacier above the waters of the Holandsfjorden fjord.
The mind-blowing project is dedicated to protecting the surrounding environment, raising awareness of the "possibilities of regenerative travel and the importance of the polar region."
In fact, the developers made a commitment "not to compromise the fragile and pristine glacial surroundings" and hope the hotel will pave the way for a new standard of carbon-neutral travel.
As a net-positive hotel, this Six Senses will harvest enough solar energy to run the hotel, adjacent operations, a boat shuttle and even provide the energy needed for construction, the brand explained in a statement, adding that it's the perfect example of how carbon neutrality is not only feasible but can also be profitable.
The hotel will also be entirely self-sustaining with waste and water management systems, recycling and a renewable infrastructure all in place alongside sustainable fishing and farming practices and "like-minded" local suppliers for the restaurants and bars.
“To enhance the vision of Svart, we have established a Net Zero Lab, a vehicle for developing and taking to market the technology created by us in a joint effort with Six Senses to reach the common goal for net-zero travel," project developer Gunnar Mathisen said in the statement. "This means the guest journey will have zero environmental impact from start to end."
As for the guest experience, Six Senses is well known for its luxurious escapes that focus on wellness and relaxation in some of the most beautiful and often remote places in the world.
Related: No shoes, great service: A review of IHG’s Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives
With only 94 rooms, Six Senses Svart is going to be an intimate but beautiful affair. Built as a circular structure, the hotel was designed to create a "feeling of openness and perpetual consciousness of nature." The interiors will feature modern and sustainable Scandic craftsmanship, with local artifacts, "fun and quirky" artwork and landscape follies that celebrate local heritage.
Each room will have a smart "wellness concierge" that uses noninvasive touchless technology to "adapt the room to the guest's state of mind and health, providing intuitive options to evoke a deeper sense of well-being."
What that means, exactly, we'll have to wait to see — but wearables will also be incorporated into the stay to help guests achieve a sense of peace.
Other elements of the hotel focusing on' wellness for both guests as well as the planet include the Alchemy Bar, where guests can turn local plants into scents and scrubs; the Earth Lab, a sustainability outreach space focusing on initiatives on and off the property; and the Svart Design Lab created to help guests understand how technology can help bring the world closer to carbon neutrality.
A zero-waste dining experience called The Marketplace will blur the lines between food storage, prep and eating, and, according to the company, "whatever isn't eaten fresh from the farm may well get pickled."
And, true to its sustainability efforts, the hotel will filter and bottle its own drinking water to stay free of plastic.
As of now, rates for the Six Senses Svart are unavailable and, according to an IHG spokesperson, there's no information at this time about if and when the property will be bookable with IHG One Rewards points. Since IHG acquired Six Senses in 2019, it's been slowly incorporating the properties into the rewards program, with a handful of options from Thailand to the Maldives currently available to book with points.