Snøhetta embraces blue and orange for its overhaul of Hotel Finse 1222

Glowing shades and William Morris wallpaper frame mountain views at this hotel in Norway’s Finse – reopened after a year-long renovation by Snøhetta.

Finse 1222 is a former railroad workers’ lodge and has been welcoming guests for the past 113 years. Tasked with giving its interiors a gentle update, Snøhetta decided to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere inside the hotel – which is located in a remote spot close to Norway’s Hardangerjøkulen glacier.

The architecture practice filled Finse 1222’s reception and lounge with warm shades of orange and red that emphasise the surrounding icy landscape. In contrast, teal and navy cocoon visitors in the appropriately named Blue Room, overlooking the glacier.

Snøhetta preserved some of the classic styles of the hotel in its dining room, which has been freshly wallpapered in a floral William Morris design. The only major structural change made by the studio was a pair of new guest suites, perched under Finse 1222’s sloping roof.

As well as its promise of the ‘blue hour’, the hotel keeps guests entertained with a polar-themed library and a mini collection of Star Wars memorabilia (scenes set on the icy planet of Hoth were filmed in Finse in 1979). Rooms start at 1,310 NOK.

Rallarvegen 2660, 5719 Finse, Norway