SELFOSS, ICELAND—Opened for more than a decade, the ION Adventure Hotel is located just about as far north as one can have a hotel—about an hour outside of Reykjavik, Iceland. The ION Adventure Hotel has many sustainable features and offers front row seating for the majestic Northern Lights. Making it easy to see those lights is the property’s Northern Lights Bar with its 180-degree panoramic windows.
The ION Adventure Hotel, which sits on a series of pillars that dramatically jut out of the slopes of Mount Hengill, was once the living residences for the nearby geothermal plant. In 2011, owner Sigurlaug Sverrisdóttir engaged Santa Monica, Calif.-based Minarc to design the modern, now 70-room hotel that opened in 2013. Minarc is led by Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson.
The designers were careful not to disturb the natural landscape, including lava fields, surrounding the hotel. “We wanted to leave the earth untouched,” says Ingjaldsdóttir. The hotel is positioned to take advantage of the natural light that changes dramatically from winter to summer—nearly 24 hours of daylight in summer and as little as four hours in winter.
Prefabricated wall panels on the hotel’s newer exterior come with layers of concrete, insulation and concrete. The older part of the hotel is covered with metal siding. Guestrooms have bare, concrete walls.
Bringing the Outside In
Lava, reused wood, Icelandic wool, and other natural materials are used extensively in furniture throughout the hotel. The organic room amenities are made from Icelandic herbs. Everything from bed linen to the restaurant’s food is organic and fair trade. Tables and chairs are built from recycled materials. Lights are made of lava and found wood. Surface areas in the shower are made from lava sand combined with resin. Hand sinks are made from recycled tires, and handmade Icelandic wool sweaters are sold in the hotel’s gift store. Icelandic art and flower vases hand-blown by local artisans offer guests a new take on rural hospitality.
“We always try to bring nature into our interior design,” Ingjaldsdóttir says.
The ION Adventure Hotel is powered entirely by a local geothermal energy provider, earning its designation as a certified green energy hotel. This renewable source ensures a minimal carbon footprint while harnessing the power of Iceland’s natural resources. All hot water used throughout the hotel, including the swimming pool, is sustainably sourced from nearby geothermal springs, providing guests with a naturally heated, eco-friendly bathing experience.
Given its remote location, there is no connection to public water. Natural, Icelandic water is accessed on site and after multiple stages of filtration, treated greywater goes into the local landscape. Black water is regularly pumped.
No Plastic Water Bottles
Waste is minimized, there are no plastic water bottles, and dispensers in bathrooms eliminate single-use plastic amenities. Water-saving showerheads conserve water.
In addition to the Northern Lights Bar, the hotel has a spa, Silfra Restaurant, and Glass House Restaurant. Restaurant food—fish and meat for example—are provided by local businesses.
Nestled in the dramatic landscape of Þingvellir National Park, the ION Adventure Hotel’s location makes it easy for fishing, horse riding, glacier hiking, ice climbing or diving between two tectonic plates.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
